Thai Villagers Sue State Over Deadly Elephant Attacks, Demand Relocation

BANGKOK, Oct 1 (TNA) - More than 200 villagers in Thailand's northeastern Khon Kaen province are suing state agencies, demanding the immediate relocation of a wild elephant herd that has killed three people in the past three years.

The residents gathered outside the Khon Kaen Administrative Court on Tuesday to file the suit. They carried signs protesting the danger, with one reading: "The state must immediately move the wild elephants out of community areas."

The lawsuit, submitted by six representatives, seeks a court order compelling authorities to eliminate the threat. It alleges that officials have neglected their duty to keep the animals from leaving protected areas and harming the public.

Since 2023, the rogue elephants have caused three deaths and destroyed significant agricultural land and homes, forcing residents to live in fear.

The herd reportedly migrated from the Phu Luang Wildlife Sanctuary in Loei province into Khon Kaen, settling in a contested area between farmland and forest in Si Chomphu and surrounding districts. The suit claims that despite repeated efforts to push the animals back into the forest, they return to the villages within 7-9 days.

While the court accepted the filing, it recommended mediation first, noting the process could resolve the issue quicker than a standard judicial proceeding, which might take up to two years.

The next step involves calling representatives from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation for a mediation hearing. -819 (TNA)