PAK CHONG, THAILAND – A wild elephant entering a temple during a funeral sent monks and mourners fleeing and drew renewed attention to Thailand’s deepening human-elephant conflict.
Elephant interrupts evening funeral
On 16 January 2026, at around 7:20 p.m., the well-known wild elephant “Phlai Duan” walked into the grounds of Wat Khao Wong in Pak Chong district, Nakhon Ratchasima, while a funeral ceremony was under way. Social media videos showed the massive animal moving calmly through the temple complex as people scattered in panic.
Eyewitnesses said mourners and monks ran from the area as soon as they saw the elephant approach.
“Everyone immediately left the ceremony, afraid of being attacked,”
said eyewitnesses.
Villagers drive the elephant away
After the compound was quickly cleared, village leaders and event organizers used flashlights and loud shouts to drive the elephant away. The tactic worked, and the animal left the temple grounds peacefully without showing aggressive behaviour.
Observers, however, noticed that Phlai Duan was limping and had visible swelling on its left hind foot. It remained unclear whether the injured elephant needed veterinary treatment.
Elephants roaming beyond Khao Yai
Abbot Phra Athikarn Kampanat Sukhethito, who also chaired an animal welfare group, said elephants from Khao Yai National Park had been leaving the protected area more frequently. They had been walking along Thanarat Road and entering villages, hotels and residential areas almost every night.
“The situation will get even worse,”
said Phra Athikarn Kampanat Sukhethito, abbot and animal welfare advocate.
During the planting season from February to May, the animals increasingly searched for food on farms and fields. The conflict over habitat between humans and wildlife had intensified dramatically in recent years.
Recent road accident underscores danger
Only a week before the temple incident, a wild elephant was hit by a transport vehicle in a serious accident. The animal was injured and the truck sustained damage in the collision.
The crash highlighted the acute danger on local roads, where both wildlife and motorists now faced growing risks.
Authorities seek long-term solutions
Provincial authorities said they were on high alert over the escalating encounters. On 5 January 2026, officials held an emergency meeting in Khao Yai National Park under the chairmanship of the provincial governor.
The aim was to find long-term solutions to the human-animal problem, including the creation of a special committee to develop coordinated measures. Until concrete steps were agreed, residents of Pak Chong and nearby areas remained anxious about where the next giant visitor might appear.
Local incident reflects national challenge
The event at Wat Khao Wong was described as part of a wider, nationwide problem. As wildlife habitats shrank and human settlements expanded, peaceful coexistence had become a daily challenge.
For local people, the fear of nocturnal elephant visits was a constant reality, and many questioned whether Thailand would find an effective solution before a major tragedy occurred.