Elephant tramples owner to death after tourists begged for it to be freed from shackles

 An elephant has trampled its owner to death in Cambodia after tourists begged for the animal to be released from its shackles so they could get a better photo with it. The 60-year-old bull elephant, called Atork, had his chains released so a group of tourists visiting eastern Cambodia could have their photos taken with it in a more natural environment.

But shortly afterwards, the unattended elephant wandered off into the jungle, away from the village where it was being kept.
The elephant’s owner, 47-year-old Choeung Team, hurried after the animal and into the jungle where villagers found his trampled body next to the animal.

They had become concerned that Mr Choeung had not returned and started started a search.

Although the incident is being investigated the owner’s nephew, Saroeun Naro insisted: ‘Atork used his trunk to beat him and trampled on him.’

He told the Phnom Penh Post that a group of tourists whose nationalities have not been revealed asked Mr Choeung to release the elephant’s shackles so they could take photos of themselves with the animal.

Today, the elephant was still on the loose.