Elephant starved to death as punishment

AN elephant died in the Cambodian city of Sen Monorom yesterday after its owner did not feed him for nearly a month as punishment for rampaging through a village.
Khun Diyon, director of a local elephant conservation organisation, said the elephant, named Beong Kok, lived with his owner in Sen Monorom city's Putang village.
Diyon said that last month, the elephant rampaged through the village, causing damage but no injuries or deaths.
He added that the 35-year-old elephant was shot with a tranquilliser gun to end the rampage, after which its owner kept it at home without food as punishment.
"Weakened by starvation, the elephant had no strength to rise and stand on its own despite making several attempts to rise up," said Diyon. "The elephant died late in the evening after he fainted in the morning, following many days of fainting."
"Expert officials could not save him because this elephant had no power and no food to eat. We are sorry to lose the elephant."
Diyon said the owner thought not feeding the elephant would weaken it and stop its rampaging ways.
"Generally, the owner keeps his elephant in chains in one place. But the owner must still give it food," he said.
Keo Sopheak, director of the provincial environment department, said he would lead an investigation into the case.
"We will investigate why this elephant died," he told Khmer Times.