Elephant Killer

Buri Ram - Forestry officials have filed a complaint against a former village chief who allegedly killed a 15-year-old elephant with his electrified barbed wire fence.

Pracha Ongsakulchu, former chief of Ban Non Din Daeng, in Non Din Daeng district, was accused of violating the 1992 Wildlife Conservation and Protection Act.

The action was taken after villagers found the body of the elephant near Mr Pracha's plantation in tambon Lam Nang Rong, close to Dong Yai wildlife sanctuary.

Mr Pracha put up a barbed wire fence around his plantation to prevent elephants from destroying his crop.

The elephant's trunk, which was curled around the barbed wire, was blackened. It was thought Mr Pracha ran electricity through the wire to keep elephants away from his plantation.

Amnuay Patthamyo, a villager, said the elephants usually came in a herd of about six.

She said the villagers heard the sound of an elephant in agony on Friday night.

Forestry officials said there were about 35 wild elephants in Dong Yai wildlife sanctuary.