Mahout Filmed Beating Elephant In Hat Yai

[Boo Radley]

Came across this story in Thairath today which was doing the rounds on Thai social media. A Thai mahout was filmed beating his elephant in Hat Yai with a metal goad.

Apparently he has several elephants which he uses to make a living by selling sugar cane for tourists to feed the animals.

At nighttime when he returns them to the camp, he regularly beats them for 'fun'.

http://www.thairath..../content/445987

Clip: https://www.facebook...799072813471462 27/08/14

[cavanami]

Maybe a little tit for tat...the elephants can give this wanker a good beating!!!

[khunsanuk]

Hi,

 

What a complete asshole!

Agree with cavanami, let the elephants have a turn at him.

 

Sanuk!

[Guest]

Elephants have long memories so i'm told, and they are bigger and accidents happen

[Boo Radley]

Reading the Facebook comments under the video, several of the Thai posters eg Kun Nato who lives in Hat Yai, seem to be forming a vigilante mob preparing to locate the guy and sort him out by giving him a good kicking.

 

Just found some more info on the Manager news site:

The police have located the mahout and 2 of his friends. The mahout in question was named as 23 year-old Narongsak Salangam, but he rather brazenly denies maltreating the elephant, saying he was just using the metal gaff to control the elephant. Meanwhile the elephant, a young 6-year old male bull elephant nicknamed Vigo, along with 2 other elephants, have been taken into care to an elephant sanctuary in Hat Yai to be assessed.

The 3 mahouts were fined 500 Baht each and will be detained until they raise the funds to pay it.

Hopefully the elephants won't be returned to them although the story didn't make clear what will happen.

http://www.manager.c...D=9570000098204 27/08/14@16:48pm

 

23 year-old mahout Narongsak Salangam @01:44 being questioned by police:

 

http://youtu.be/124kZD9pCao

[Flashermac]

What time's the kicking. I'd like to be there.