Elephant kills handler, runs off with tourists

[Second Summer]

A routine jungle trek turned into tragedy when an elephant killed his handler and ran off with two tourists in south-west Thailand.

Meaw the bull elephant is believed to have been in musth when he suddenly threw off his handler, trampled him to death, and disappeared into the jungle with a Russian woman and her nine-year-old daughter still on his back.

More: Elephant crushes handler to death and stampedes through jungle in Thailand | Daily Mail Online (17. November, 2014)

This is reminiscent of the orcas in captivity that have killed their handlers.

 

[Calliegirl]

Good for him.
A fitting punishment for an animal exploiter.

 

[Amy SF]

I'm certainly not happy that the guy was killed, but I can understand why the elephant might have wanted to trample him to death.

 

[ledboots]

"It is thought that Meaw was in musth, a periodic change in bull behaviour related to an elevated level in testosterone, which takes place in the winter months."

 

[shyvas]

Just another sad example of what happens when wild animals are exploited to do tasks that don't come naturel to them.

 

[Quiet Vegan]

I travelled around Thailand about 24 years ago, well before I was vegetarian let alone vegan.

One of the trips was to an Elephant 'sanctuary' near Chiang Mai and you could pay to ride an elephant.

What a horrible experience that was! As soon as I was on the elephant's back I could see numerous scars from where the mahout had used the stick to 'control' it. During the ride the mahout used this stick a number of times, digging it into the flesh of the elephant and causing more injuries. I was in tears and asked to get the hell off the elephant but was told I'd have to stay on until the end of the ride. According to the mahout the elephant feels nothing as its hide is so thick but that sounded like complete and utter BS to me. The stick was going an inch or more into the flesh

 

[shyvas]

I travelled around Thailand about 24 years ago, well before I was vegetarian let alone vegan.

One of the trips was to an Elephant 'sanctuary' near Chiang Mai and you could pay to ride an elephant.

What a horrible experience that was! As soon as I was on the elephant's back I could see numerous scars from where the mahout had used the stick to 'control' it. During the ride the mahout used this stick a number of times, digging it into the flesh of the elephant and causing more injuries. I was in tears and asked to get the hell off the elephant but was told I'd have to stay on until the end of the ride. According to the mahout the elephant feels nothing as its hide is so thick but that sounded like complete and utter BS to me. The stick was going an inch or more into the flesh

That is just awful. I also would have been so upset and can't imagine how you must have felt.

 

[MidnightPicnic]

I wonder if the girl and lady are okay. As far as the elephant is concerned, I hope he is never found; Meaw probably had his one chance to escape and took it. Who wouldn't? Of any species? There's tragedy in any situation of forced compliance and exploitation. It just does't have to be this way. I hope Meaws freedom is long and happy. ♡

 

[shyvas]

I wonder if the girl and lady are okay. As far as the elephant is concerned, I hope he is never found; Meaw probably had his one chance to escape and took it. Who wouldn't? Of any species? There's tragedy in any situation of forced compliance and exploitation. It just does't have to be this way. I hope Meaws freedom is long and happy. ♡

I also hope that the poor mite got away and lives a peaceful life.