Wild gaur gores woman leaving her seriously injured in northeast Thailand

A woman who went out looking for red ant eggs is seriously injured after she was gored by wild gaur in a rural area of Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand yesterday.

At 2.40pm, the village chief of Ban Phong Ta Long in Pak Chong district, Chamras Phusuman, was informed that someone was severely attacked by a wild gaur in the mango orchard opposite Suan Udomphon Rural Road.

More than 10 villagers rushed to the orchard to find 45 year old Mam Pimpakul lying on the ground in a pool of blood, with serious wounds to her chest, stomach, and under both of her eyes.

It took villagers some time to transport her out of the forest to the nearest road and drive her to Mukutkiriwan Hospital. Due to the seriousness of her injuries, Mam was transferred to Pak Chong Nana Hospital where she remains in critical condition.

Mam’s friend revealed that he and Mam went out looking for red ant nests because the eggs are selling for 200 – 300 baht per kilogram at the moment. Red ants eggs are a delicacy in Thailand.

As the pair walked into the forest, they startled a wild gaur – also known as an Indian bison – asleep in the forest. The beast charged at them, goring Mam, while her friend climbed up a tree to escape.

The area is near the boundary of Khao Yai National Park, home to many dangerous wild animals like gaur, tigers, and elephants.

When Pak Chong District Chief Kanatchon Sricharoen heard about the news, he travelled to visit Mam in the hospital with national park officials to deliver a survival bag and money.

Locals revealed that they don’t dare go in that area of the forest as they know it is frequented by wild gaur and they are too scared.

In December, a driver hit a wild gaur with his car in the same province. The man suffered minor injuries. The gaur was believed to be injured but ran off into the forest.

The car front of the car was completely demolished, demonstrating the strength of this wild beast.

Wild gaurs are the largest species of bovine, with males weighing up to 1,500 kilograms and standing up to 1.9 meters tall.