Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Bull elephant kills Ratanakkiri boy

Bull elephant kills Ratanakkiri boy

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A bull elephant struck off a 10-year-old boy and threw him against a tree with its trunk in Lbaing II commune, Lumphat district, Ratanakkiri Province. Supplied

Bull elephant kills Ratanakkiri boy

A 10-year-old boy was killed when a bull elephant struck him off of his motorbike and threw him against a tree with its trunk. The incident happened on Saturday in Lbaing II commune, Lumphat district, Ratanakkiri Province.

Commune police chief Say Khily told The Post on Sunday that the victim, Heak Chivak, lived in the commune and was from the Prov ethnic minority.

He said Chivak was riding a motorbike behind his 31-year-old uncle Bunroeung Plal, a mahout, who was riding the bull elephant to Sruoch Mountain to graze.

Plal said the elephant suddenly turned around and used its trunk to hit the boy, throwing him off the motorbike.

After he fell, the elephant used its trunk again to lift and swing the boy against a tree causing fatal injuries that culminated in his death.

The boy was then taken to the Ratanakkiri provincial hospital but died 10 minutes after arrival.

“When the incident happened, I was still on the back of the elephant. I tried to stab it with an axe at first. Then it broke so I pulled out an iron to stab it further. I came down from its back and ran to see my nephew. I took him straight to Ratanakkiri hospital,” Plal said.

Chivak’s grandfather, Chroeuy Bunroeung, the mahout team leader at Airavata Elephant Foundation told The Post that the bull elephant is 32 years old.

Called Buok Mai, is known to be gentle and had never threatened any mahouts or villagers.

“Mai was a nice and obedient elephant. However, it appears he has shown his true colours and killed my grandson,” said Bunroeung.

Airavata Elephant Foundation manager Choun Samey said Mai has since been tied under a tree at the Airata Elephant Protection and Conservation area and is being taken care of by staff.

“The incident is terribly regretful. However, we will not allow family members of the victim to take revenge against Buok Mai as it is a local elephant and an endangered species,” she said.

Mai was originally from Sre Ampoum commune, in Pech Chreada district, Mondulkiri province, where it killed its 45-year-old owner Mob Sreng in September 2016.

It took a team of elephant experts three days to find and detain it. The elephant was captured because of fears it would attack other citizens and tourists.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Famed US collector family return artefacts to Cambodia

    In the latest repatriation of ancient artefacts from the US, a total of 33 pieces of Khmer cultural heritage will soon return home, according to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. In a September 12 press statement, it said the US Attorney’s Office for the

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Kampot curfew imposed to curb ‘gang’ violence

    Kampot provincial police have announced measures to contain a recent spike in antisocial behaviour by “unruly’ youth. Officials say the province has been plagued by recent violence among so-called “gang members”, who often fight with weapons such as knives and machetes. Several social observers have

  • PM outlines plans to discuss trade, policy during US visit

    Prime Minister Hun Manet is set to meet with senior US officials and business leaders during his upcoming visit to the US for the UN General Assembly (UNGA), scheduled for September 20. While addressing nearly 20,000 workers in Kampong Speu province, Manet said he aims to affirm

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument