A 7-year-old elephant, “Permpoon,” who worked on the street, was killed by an electric shock last night when he tried to cross a road in Nakhon Nayok province.
It was just another day that Permpoon had to accompany his mahout to a market, where people would hopefully buy food from the mahout to feed the elephant. On their way to the market yesterday, the elephant collapsed and died when crossing a traffic island near Sila Thong intersection. He is thought to have come into contact with live electrical wires.
The mahout, Pongpan Baworn, who was riding on Permpoon’s back, fell from the elephant as the animal collapsed. The mahout was not injured, but there was nothing he could do to save the animal, according to TNN.
Eyewitnesses called authorities, who later cut the power in the area to rescue the elephant, but it was too late.
Several cables were also seen on the ground, hanging from an electrical pole nearby.
The mahout said he traveled from Surin with Permpoon, and that he sold elephant’s food to people so they could feed the elephant.
Authorities will check if Pongpan had any official documents to bring the animal out its home area. If not, he will be charged.
The deceased elephant will be sent to Kasetsart University Veterinary Hospital for an autopsy, Thai PBS reported.
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