A funeral was held this morning for a family of wild elephants electrocuted to death by wires a man installed to keep wild animals off his land in Prachuap Khiri Khan province.
The elephants – a male, female and youngster about 3 years old – were found dead in a grassy field bordering the Kaeng Krachan National Park yesterday morning. The smallest elephant was missing a part of her trunk, but no wounds or burns were found on the adults.
It is an ancient belief that the tip of an elephant’s trunk will make a good amulet.
Officials with the Department of National Parks initially concluded the elephants were poisoned and ordered a thorough autopsy take place. Later when police discovered a large roll of electric wire hidden by the site.
A local man, whose identity was not disclosed, came clean yesterday admitting he put up an electrified wire one meter above the ground connected to the 220volt power grid to keep wild elephants off his grass.
He said he was fully aware at the time this could kill the elephants, according to Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand.
The elephants have been buried in the national park at a funeral overseen by Buddhist monks this morning.
Police were still questioning the local man, according to INN.
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