Male Elephant Goes Berserk: Attacks Owner and Damages Vehicles After Forced Breeding Attempt

On February 16, rescue workers from Wang Krut received reports of an elephant attacking its handler and threatening villagers in Non That Village, Tha Muang Subdistrict, Satuk District, Buriram Province. When officials arrived, they found the 19-year-old elephant named Phet Uthai destroying two Isuzu vehicles - a white MU-X and a green pickup truck - and attempting to attack onlookers. The elephant's owner, Somporn Sudthiso, 35, was severely injured, with reports indicating a punctured lung. The incident occurred during a breeding arrangement, where Phet Uthai was brought to mate with a female elephant. The owner's attempts to rush the mating process apparently agitated the male elephant, causing him to attack. Authorities from the Elephant Kingdom Project in Surin Province eventually sedated the elephant after a careful two-hour operation, ultimately bringing the situation under control. The rampage resulted in damage to two vehicles and five roadside signs.