The wild elephant lies dead after being electrocuted inside Kaeng Krachan National Park. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)
By Terry Fredrickson
The latest to die was a young wild male elephant whose trunk became entangled in a 220 volt farm electric fence inside the boundary of the park.
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Elephant electrocuted in Kaeng Krachan
Another wild elephant has been killed in Kaeng Krachan National Park in Petchaburi province.
The latest to die was a young wild male elephant whose trunk became entangled in a 220 volt farm electric fence inside the boundary of the park.
Like the two previous killings – one in March and another in April – a farmer protecting his land from elephant intrusions, not the illegal ivory trade, is the likely cause.
The electric fence was protecting a palm farm in tambon Pa Deng, Kaeng Krachan district, owned by Narunart Gaeturat, 50.
Mr Narunart said he heard sounds like an animal in pain about 4am Thursday. Two hours later, after the sun rose, he found the elephant lying lifeless by his fence and reported it to the village chief.
Phetchaburi provincial governor Montian Thongnit and rangers from Kaeng Krachan National Park inspected the scene of the tragedy.
Mr Montian said later that Mr Narunart's 25-rai farm is within the park boundary and he has no official property ownership documents.
But Mr Narunart told the authorities he purchased the land from its previous owner more than two years ago, and paid 1.5 million baht.
The electric fence was put up to deter wild animals and cattle from neighbouring farms from entering his property and eating his crop, he said.
Mr Montian said Mr Narunart had been charged with carelessness leading to the death of a protected animal.
Investigators would also look into how Mr Narunart acquired his property and whether the electric fence was using a voltage appropriate for agricultural fencing.
The previous two deaths involved rifles and two brothers have been arrested in connection with the killings.
Adapted from a story by Chaiwat Satyaem in today's Bangkok Post.
Vocabulary
wild – living or growing in natural conditions; not kept in a house or on a farm ไม่เชื่อง, สภาพธรรมชาติ
electrocute – to kill or injure someone with electricity ฆ่าหรือทำร้ายด้วยกระแสไฟฟ้า
male – belonging to the sex that does not give birth to babies เพศชาย, เพศผู้, ผู้ชาย
trunk – the very long nose of an elephant that it uses to lift food and water to its mouth
entangled – to twist someone or something up in something such as a wire or net, so that they are stuck and cannot easily be set free พัน
boundary – a real or imagined line that marks the edge or limit of something เขตแดน,เส้นแบ่งเขต
intrusion – when someone goes into a place or situation where they are not wanted or expected to be การบุกรุก, การล่วงล้ำ
illegal – against the law ผิดกฎหมาย, นอกกฎหมาย
ivory – the yellowish-white bone that an elephant’s tusks are made of ทนต์
trade – a type of business การค้าขายpain –
pain – the feelings that you have in your body when you have been hurt or when you are ill/sick; mental or emotional suffering ความเจ็บปวด
ranger – a person whose job is to take care of a park, a forest or an area of countryside เจ้าหน้าที่ดูแลป่าหรืออุทยาน
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ, ตรวจสอบอย่างละเอียด
scene – site; a place where something happens or happened สถานที่เกิดเหตุ
tragedy – a very sad situation, usually because it involves death or great suffering โศกนาฎกรรม
property – land owned by someone ที่ดิน, อสังหาริมทรัพย์
document – a paper or set of papers with written or printed information, especially of an official type เอกสาร
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
purchase – to buy something ซื้อ
deter – to make someone decide not to do something ขัดขวาง, ยับยั้ง, ป้องกัน
cattle – cows and bulls that are kept as farm animals for their milk or meat วัวควาย
neighbouring – located or living near or next to a place or person ติดกัน, ที่อยู่ใกล้เคียง, ที่ตั้งอยู่ใกล้เคียง
crop – a plant grown for food, usually on a farm พืชผล
carelessness – not giving enough attention and thought to what you are doing, so that you make mistakes ความไม่ระมัดระวัง
protected animal – an animal protected by law, making it illegal to to kill or harm the animal
investigator – someone whose job is to officially find out the facts about something – ผู้สอบสวน, ผู้สำรวจ, ผู้ตรวจสอบ
acquire – to get; to obtain ได้มาซึ่ง
appropriate – suitable or right for a particular situation or purpose ที่เหมาะสม
rifle – a large gun with a long barrel that you hold against your shoulder to fire ปืนยาว, ปืนไรเฟิล
arrested – caught by the police and taken to a police station because you are believed to have committed a crime ถูกจับกุม
connection – something that connects two facts, ideas, etc. การเชื่อมต่อ การเชื่อมโยง
