Wild elephant stampede leads to death and injury, Cambodia strengthens monitoring in Preah Vihear

China News Service, Phnom Penh, October 17 (Reporter Yang Qiang) Cambodia's Ministry of Environment announced on social media on the 17th local time that relevant authorities in the country's Preah Vihear Province are closely monitoring the movement of a group of wild elephants. The elephant herd has moved from Zongkesang County to Kulen County in Preah Vihear Province. Authorities urged the public to avoid areas where elephants roam and to take precautions to avoid close contact with the herds.

According to the Cambodian Ministry of Environment, on October 16, local government departments and technical staff from the Preah Vihear Provincial Department of Environment tracked a herd of six wild elephants. At that time, they were resting among the bushes and jungles to feed. An interagency working group immediately deployed drones to conduct aerial tracking and monitoring of this group of wild elephants. Animal protection experts pointed out that this area is the traditional habitat and migration corridor of elephants.

Authorities strictly prohibit any act by the public to drive away or disturb the elephants, and warn that such actions may lead to an attack by the elephants. The joint working group is continuously monitoring the movements of the elephant herd to protect the safety of local residents and wildlife.

On the 13th of this month, a stampede by a herd of wild elephants occurred in Zongkesang County, Preah Vihear Province, resulting in deaths and injuries. According to a report from the Cambodian Ministry of Environment, 5 to 6 wild elephants broke into the temporary shacks built by villagers that night, causing a stampede that killed an 11-year-old boy and seriously injured his mother.