PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, Thailand – A park volunteer is believed to have been killed by a wild elephant while repairing a damaged elephant alert system in Kui Buri National Park on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.

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The victim, identified as Sayam Kotcha, was part of a small group of villagers who entered the park to install and repair components of the True Smart Early Warning System (TSEWS), a technology-driven system designed to detect elephant movements and alert rapid-response teams . The group had been working in the Ban Wang Sai area of Sam Roi Yot district when Sayam failed to return home and could not be contacted.

A search was launched immediately, and approximately one hour later, Sayam’s body was discovered on an elephant trail. He had suffered a broken right hand and multiple serious wounds to his body, consistent with an attack by a large animal. Search teams also found fresh elephant footprints and broken tree branches and trunks at the scene.

A park volunteer is believed to have been killed by a wild elephant while he was fixing a damaged elephant alert system in the Kui Buri National Park in Prachuap Khiri Khan province on Wednesday.

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Bamrungrat Ploydum, chief of Kui Buri National Park, stated that initial evidence strongly suggests Sayam was killed by a wild elephant. His body has been sent to Sam Roi Yot District Hospital for an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Suchart Chomklin has expressed his condolences and ordered officials to provide the family with urgent assistance and compensation in accordance with government regulations . The Department of National Parks has also expressed its condolences to the family and is coordinating support.

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Kui Buri National Park is well-known as Thailand’s premier location for observing wild elephants and, with luck, gaurs. It is rich in sandalwood trees and is the only place in Thailand where sandalwood can be harvested for royal cremations. The park employs the True Smart Early Warning System, which uses camera traps, AI, and a command centre to monitor elephant movements 24/7 and push them back into the forest zone to reduce conflicts with local communities.

-Thailand News (TN)