Loei —
On December 13th, 2024, Mr. Atthaphon Charoenchansa, the Director-General of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, provided updates on the closure of Phu Kradueng National Park in Loei following a fatal elephant attack on a tourist.
A rapid response team reportedly equipped with drones, motorcycles, and other tools has been deployed to monitor the aggressive wild elephant, which remains in the area. Additional surveys are underway to assess the presence of other elephants and determine the boundaries for safety measures.
Atthaphon announced plans to visit the park on December 16th to discuss measures to prevent future incidents and safely reopen the park. Pending safety confirmation, the reopening is expected before December 25th to accommodate the New Year holiday.
In preparation, a plan to assist tourists in emergencies, including animal attacks, is being developed. Park officials will also educate visitors on how to respond appropriately when encountering wild elephants.
Meanwhile, Phu Kradueng National Park Chief Adisorn Hemthanont confirmed that all 889 tourists were safely evacuated on December 13th. The wild elephant remains near tourist paths, displaying potentially dangerous behavior, prompting the temporary closure.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
