A mahout has been charged after an elephant attacked an Italian tourist in Phang Nga yesterday. Phang Nga livestock officials say the elephant was too young for elephant rides.

A 29 year old Italian tourist, and his 31 year old travel companion, remain in Phang Nga hospital this morning following the elephant attack yesterday.

Read more about the attack HERE.

Chief of Phang Nga Livestock Saroj Jittakarn says, “The elephant has not reached maturity where it fully capable of carrying passengers. The incident happened as the elephant is not familiar with elephant rides with tourists. This incident is an indication of the risks involved.”

“Female elephants are more suitable for elephant rides but there is not enough elephant rides available in Phang Nga due to the rise in tourist numbers. Some untrained elephants are currently being used.”

Thung  Ka Ngok Deputy Chief Police Lt Col Siriwat Inyim says, “26 year old Kanjanapong Karnwijit, the mahout of the elephant named ‘Tanwa’, has been charged with a reckless act causing serious injury.”

“We are questioning the owner of the elephant camp as we continue our investigation.”

A 29 year old Italian tourist, and his travel companion, are in a Phang Nga hospital this morning following an elephant attack.

The man was seriously injured yesterday when a 12 year old male elephant, that he and a friend were riding as part of a tourist activity in Phang Nga’s Mueang district, suddenly shook them to the ground and gored him in the stomach.

The incident took place at 10.30am yesterday morning at an old oil-palm plantation in Tambon Song Praek that is now a private park for elephant riding.

Trofa Manuel sustained serious injuries in the incident, while his compatriot, 31 year old Francesco Di Megli, received minor injuries.

Both were rushed to Phang Nga Hospital, where they are recovering from their injuries.

The 26 year old mahout Kanchanapong Kanwichit, who sustained some bruising after falling from the elephant but sought no treatment, told police that his bull elephant, named Plai Thanwa, had attacked the tourists towards the end of a 30 minute ride. He says the assault had been totally unprovoked.

He said the elephant had suddenly and violently shaken off the riders, before stabbing a tusk intoMr Manuel. He claims the attack was unusual and out-of-character behaviour, as Plai Thanwa, now chained in a safe, secluded spot at the park, was normally good-natured.

The elephant had never attack anyone before, and was not currently in rut (on heat), Kanchanapong added.

SOURCE: The Nation

FILE PHOTO

Two of Hong Kong’s leading entrepreneurs Allan Zeman and Richard Li are developing a mixed-use project in Thai Muang, Phang Nga named Aquella.

The initial phase of the development includes a par 72, 18 hole golf course, resort pool villa residences with two to four bedroom unit configurations back of a massive land site that offers over 2.5 kilometres of white sand beach.

Previously, the approximate 1,000 rai site was the home of the Thai Muang golf course. After acquisition the course was closed, and the master planned Pinetree project that was to contain a marina and luxury Park Hyatt hotel stopped when land zoning issues changed in Southern Phang Nga.

Today, the new golf course has been reconfigured and Zeman’s Paradise Group who developed Kamala’s posh Andara ultra villa resort in Phuket are collaborating with Li’s Pacific Century Premium Developments (PCPD) group.

South West Phang Nga hosted some of Asia’s most significant luxury villa sales in the mid 2000’s given it’s close access to Phuket International Airport, over the Sarasin Bridge.

Changes in the zoning regime stunted the area’s growth over the past decade but a new wave of interest has been born in projects such as Charn Issara’s Baba Beach Club.

Land prices in Koh Pilai and Koh Kloy have sharply escalated in recent months on the announcement of a second Greater Phuket airport by Thai aviation authority AoT.

That said, the area has a rich history in demonstrated luxury residential sales in projects such as Aleenta and Sava.

With Phuket bursting as the seams, and prime oceanfront plots limited, the recent transaction of the former greenfield site of the Ritz-Carlton Reserve has indicated positive sentiment.