A 49-year-old woman has died after being attacked by an elephant, according to multiple reports.
The woman was walking in Phu Kradueng National Park in Thailand when she was attacked on Wednesday, Dec. 11, per local media outlets theBangkok Post, MCOT.net and The Nation.
She was on a trail leading to Phen Phop Mai Waterfall when the incident happened.
According to MCOT.net and The Nation, the elephant charged at the woman twice, causing fatal injuries.
In a post shared on Facebook on Dec. 12, Phu Kradueng National Park confirmed that a visitor had died following an incident of wild elephants attacking tourists on Dec. 11. The post added that the elephants are “still roaming around the walking path to various tourist attractions” and “it may be dangerous to tourists who see wild elephants along the path.”
Phu Kradueng National Park in Thailand.
Boy_Anupong/Getty
“Phu Kradung National Park expresses its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and requests all tourists to strictly follow the instructions of the officials for tourism safety,” the post added.
The victim was identified as a woman named Jeeranan from Chachoengsao province, per the Bangkok Post. According to the outlet, other visitors at the park alerted rangers to the attack at around 9:47 a.m. local time. Park officials then found the woman dead.
Adisorn Hemtanon, the head of Phu Kradueng National Park, said that the National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department has ordered an investigation into the incident and instructed park rangers to provide increased security for visitors, according to MCOT.net.
Per the Bangkok Post, Phu Kradueng police have also begun an investigation into the woman’s death.
Phu Kradueng National Park said all tourist attractions and camps would be temporarily closed from Dec. 13 following the incident, per their Facebook post. “The tourism section of the Sri San Tourist Service Center (foothill) remains open to the tourists as usual,” the post added.
According to the Bangkok Post, MCOT.net and The Nation, this is the first time a wild elephant has attacked a tourist in the area.
