A 27-year-old elephant in the Ayutthaya Elephant palace and Royal Kraal had its tusks trimmed by 20 centimeters last Monday after it fatally attacked one tourist and severely wounded another.
The elephant attacked a Saraburi couple who were visiting the Palace. The wife was killed while the husband suffered only a leg injury.
Laithongrien Meephan, the elephant palace’s owner, expressed his apologies for the incident. He insisted that the elephant, Plai Ngam, was good-natured and had not harmed people before.
The Nation reports that Plai Ngam’s tusks were later trimmed by 20 centimeters in a ceremony meant to free the spirit of the slain tourist, which custom holds remained with the elephant after the killing.
Photo: World Wildlife Fund
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