Tourist Elephant Tramples Owner

An elephant used to carry backpackers to a popular waterfall in Mondulkiri province killed its keeper on Monday.

Witnesses say the elephant became agitated when its owner started beating it when it stopped responding to his commands. The elephant reacted violently and threw its owner into the air, gored him with its tusk and trampled him. It then ran off into the forest near the popular tourist destination, Bousra Waterfall.

Khmer Times reported that the elephant was “lovesick” and went running after a female elephant as it is currently mating season.

The elephant has not yet been found, but rangers are currently trying to capture it and bring it down with tranquilisers. Police are patrolling the area and have warned people to be cautious.

Several experts have encouraged tourists not to participate in elephant riding in Asian countries, as they are often mistreated in the tourism industry. 

According to Travel Fish, a combination of poor care and treatment often makes these sensitive animals “go off the deep end: repetitive swaying and nervous tics are trademark behaviours of depressed elephants.” Occasionally, elephants also react in violent outbursts.

But, there are ways to interact with elephants without contributing to animal cruelty through elephant sanctuaries like the Elephant Valley Project in Mondulkiri.

The sanctuary creates a home for injured and overworked elephants and allows visitors to spend time with the elephants in their natural habitat, instead of the traditional tourist attractions of riding elephants.