China is exerting pressure on the Thai government to fully investigate the death of a Chinese tour guide trampled by an elephant.
The China National Tourism Administration, via its representative office in Bangkok has urged a full probe of the incident.
He Yongjie, 34, from Chongqing Beiguo Holiday travel agency, accompanied the agency’s tour group at the Golden Triangle Elephant Park in Chonburi.
He was killed trying to protect members of the group after an elephant charged them.
He reportedly ran in front of other tourists to shield them and was trampled to death.
He was pronounced dead a short time later.
An elephant trainer at the park said it was caused by one tourist pulling the elephant’s tail but this was denied by other members of the group.
According to Chinese media reports, the guide’s family has rejected a proposed compensation pay-out worth about $61,000 as ‘unacceptable.’
