Two Italian tourists have been injured, one of them seriously, when they were thrown off an elephant at the Bang Kaeo Adventure elephant camp in Thailand’s southern province of Phang-nga on Tuesday.
Muang district police, went to the park in Tambon Song Praek to investigate after being alerted of the incident by camp officials. Police were told that the two Italian tourists, whose identities are currently being withheld, hired one elephant, 8-year old Tunwa, for a jungle trip escorted by a mahout.
After they all mounted Tunwa, the elephant suddenly shook its head violently, throwing all three of them to the ground. However, one of the tourists was caught on the elephant’s tusks during the fall, causing him serious injuries. Camp officials rushed the injured tourists to the district hospital.
The mahout reportedly told the police that he suspected the elephant might have been provoked by the strong smell of alcohol emanating from the tourists.
