Elephant Keeper killed at Fuji Safari

[Nisha]

An elephant keeper has been trampled to death at Fuji Safari Park following the birth of a calf on Sunday 14th October:
Thoughts are with the keepers family and staff at the park

AN elephant trampled its keeper to death at a Japanese zoo on Tuesday as he tried to stop the gigantic animal from attacking its new-born calf, police and reports said.

Inthavong Khamphone, who was from Laos, had watched the elephants overnight with other keepers at Fuji Safari Park after the mother gave birth on Sunday, police said.

"Khamphone entered the cage with another keeper because the mother started attacking the baby," a local police officer said. "The mother then started attacking Khamphone."

The 30-year-old was an elephant specialist who had been working with the creatures for around 15 years. He had come to Japan from Laos with the mother elephant in July last year, said Jiji Press and the Sankei daily citing the zoo.

Reports said the keeper had died after the two-tonne elephant stood on his chest at the park, which is near Mount Fuji.

 

[ShowMeElephants]

I am interested in the history of elephants at the Fuji Safari Park. It seems now they have a group of Asians that came from Laos (or Pyongang zoo, according to Elephant.se?)

They had a huge number of Africans that arrived in 1980 when the park opened - 2.12 that were still there in 1984. Thanks to anyone for the help!