A tragedy occurred at the Bali Safari and Marine Park. An elephant caretaker (known as a mahout) was killed by one of his charges. The 27-year-old Komang Resi Yasa died after suffering multiple injuries when he was attacked by an elephant named Gadi.
The incident happened unexpectedly and without provocation. It has not been reported whether Yasa was riding the elephant at the time or walking alongside it.
Yasa tried to escape from the elephant, while two other staff members attempted to stop the rampaging animal. They tried to bring other elephants to shield the severely injured Yasa. In addition, the caretakers used special hooks in an attempt to drive the elephant away from the victim, but they were unsuccessful.
Yasa was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance right after the attack. However, he died on the way from extensive injuries. The aggressive elephant was euthanized by safari staff shortly after the incident.
The Gianyar police chief, Umar, confirmed the incident and reported that the deceased worker was from South Sumatra, Lampung, home to Indonesia's largest state elephant conservation reserve and a training school for mahouts.
Umar stated: “We have interviewed witnesses and checked the CCTV footage. There is plenty of surveillance footage as the safari is a tourist attraction; the victim’s family has already arrived from Lampung.”
The head of marketing at Bali Safari, Alexander Zulkarnain, explained that this was an unfortunate workplace accident. “We extend our deepest condolences to the victim's family and all who knew him. Bali Safari Park will be supporting the family through this difficult time.”
The statement also mentioned: “Our caretakers have undergone the necessary training and follow established operational procedures, especially when interacting with the elephants. We consistently ensure that all animals at the safari park are not subject to mistreatment and are kept safe and healthy.” According to his colleagues, Yasa was valued for his care of the elephants. They say he genuinely loved his charges. The elephant shows have been temporarily suspended.
Despite claims that the safari animals are treated very well, the global animal protection organization disagrees. World Animal Protection previously wrote about Bali: “Overall, in the more than five years since the previous report, there has been no significant or substantial improvement in the conditions for wild animals in entertainment facilities on Bali and Lombok. Our investigation revealed that wild animals continue to suffer from inappropriate conditions.”
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