Trunk trouble: Rampaging elephants stampede through Thai village

A herd of rampaging elephants caused devastation in the village of Ang Suea Dam, Thata Thakiap subdistrict, Chachoengsao province, much to the dismay of locals. Around 30 wild elephants destroyed nearly 1,000 rubber trees that villagers had nurtured for nearly a decade.

The community, led by village head Sombun Saeko, expressed their frustration and appealed to the government for assistance in addressing the issue of wild elephants damaging crops.

Local conservation officials and a team of volunteer villagers, known for monitoring wild elephant activity surveyed the damage caused by the elephants. The destruction was extensive, with the elephants leaving a trail of broken rubber trees across the area. Fresh elephant dung was found at the scene, suggesting the animals had recently been resting in the vicinity, reported KhaoSod.

Sombun voiced his frustrations over the damaged plantation. The loss is significant, with more than 1,000 rubber trees destroyed by the elephants.

“Do you see these rubber trees? They’ve been growing for nine years, and now they’ve been knocked down by wild elephants in just a matter of minutes.

“In the past, the people of Ang Suea Dam have never chased away or driven out the wild elephants. So why must the villagers of Ang Suea Dam suffer and bear the damage themselves?”

The villagers of Ang Suea Dam are now seeking support and solutions from local governments to prevent further incidents and help restore their damaged livelihoods. The destruction of nearly a thousand rubber trees represents not only a financial loss but also the loss of years of hard work and dedication to their plantations.

The issue of human-elephant conflict is complex, with both sides suffering as a result of increasing competition for space and resources. Finding a sustainable solution requires cooperation between local communities, conservationists, and governments to ensure the safety and prosperity of both people and wildlife.