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Thai Pachyderms Ambush Food Trucks
New York Times ^ | December 18, 2004

Posted on 12/19/2004 12:04:34 AM PST by nickcarraway

KHAO-ANG RUE-NI, Thailand (AP) -- These pachyderms aren't just going after peanuts.

Elephants in a wildlife sanctuary in eastern Thailand are using their oversize bodies as road blocks, ambushing vehicles transporting sugar cane, tapioca and fruit, the sanctuary's chief says.

The estimated 200 elephants in the Khao-Ang Rue-Ni sanctuary turn desperate -- and wily -- in the dry season, when water and food supplies shrink. It's then that the animals stage their heists, Yuo Senatham said.

Conveniently enough for the elephants, the dry season is also when hundreds of trucks travel through their lands, laden with newly harvested tapioca and sugar cane.

According to Yuo, a herd leader usually emerges from the jungle at dusk to block the road. When a vehicle stops, other elephants move in for the feast.

Signs urging motorists not to feed the elephants don't seem to be doing the trick.

``It's like the drivers are bribing the elephants -- otherwise the elephants won't allow trucks to pass through,'' Yuo said

The elephants, who have never hurt a motorist, sound a general retreat when wildlife officials arrive to scare them away with spotlights.

The sanctuary chief says he can't prevent the elephants from roaming near the road because the area used to belong to them.

``What we can do is prevent them from getting hurt and hurting people,'' Yuo said.

The Thai army cut the road through the 270,000-acre sanctuary in the 1980s to help ferry supplies to insurgents fighting the Cambodian government, Yuo said.

There are some 3,000 wild elephants in Thailand, according to the Forestry Department.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: elephants; thailand; wildlife
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1 posted on 12/19/2004 12:04:34 AM PST by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

I've heard of guerrilla warfare, but this is ridiculous!


2 posted on 12/19/2004 12:07:54 AM PST by SaltyJoe
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To: nickcarraway

They don't look like us, but they seem to have more in common with us than our fellow Great Apes.


3 posted on 12/19/2004 12:26:04 AM PST by sinanju
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To: SaltyJoe

I'm reading that people purchase elephants specifically for begging. That is that this big gray thing strong trunks ya into giving him some coin.


4 posted on 12/19/2004 12:28:35 AM PST by endthematrix ("Hey, it didn't hit a bone, Colonel. Do you think I can go back?" - U.S. Marine)
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To: nickcarraway

More elephants taking food out of the mouths of the... oh, whatever.


5 posted on 12/19/2004 12:28:58 AM PST by MAEsser (Law School may take my time... but it can never take... my FREEDOM!!! (Exams are over; free for now))
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To: nickcarraway

An ant and an elephant share a night of romance. Next morning the ant wakes up and the elephant is dead. "Damn", says the ant, "one night of passion and I spend the rest of my life digging a grave!"


6 posted on 12/19/2004 12:43:11 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: nickcarraway

3000 elephants in Thailand disrupt supply lines there.

How can 62 MILLION GOP elephants disrupt Democrat/Marxist supply lines here? Here are some ideas: demanding the MSM tell the TRUTH...watching your local School Board like hawks...saying Merry Christmas to all and boycotting stores that won't say or display it.


7 posted on 12/19/2004 12:45:11 AM PST by The Spirit Of Allegiance (REMEMBER THE ALGOREAMO--relentlessly hammer on the TRUTH, like the Dems demand recounts)
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To: nickcarraway
Knock, knock.
Who's there?
Elephants.
Elephants who?
Ella Fintzgerald!
8 posted on 12/19/2004 12:45:18 AM PST by billorites (freepo ergo sum)
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To: MAEsser

Luckily, they only take food. Imagine a herd of elephants taking, say, mortars, machine guns and other military hardware, and then taking to more systematic life of pillage.


9 posted on 12/19/2004 12:47:04 AM PST by GSlob
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To: nickcarraway
Elephants in a wildlife sanctuary in eastern Thailand are using their oversize bodies as road blocks, ambushing vehicles transporting sugar cane, tapioca and fruit, the sanctuary's chief says.

Elephants have very good memories. Looks like they've also got good bargaining powers.

"Give us what we want and we guarantee you won't be flatter than a pancake in 15 seconds."

10 posted on 12/19/2004 1:01:54 AM PST by Prime Choice (Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! ...And no, my powers can only be used for Good.)
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To: Lazamataz

I feel sick....


12 posted on 12/19/2004 1:10:43 AM PST by injin
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To: Prime Choice
Elephants have very good memories. Looks like they've also got good bargaining powers.

From now on, I'm bringing an elephant into salary negotiations with me.

Lazamataz: "I want $120,000 a year, four weeks paid vacation, and a company car."

(NUDGE)

Lazamataz: "....and a ton of kiwis and sugar cane."

13 posted on 12/19/2004 1:10:43 AM PST by Lazamataz ("Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown" -- harpseal)
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To: injin
I feel sick....

YOU??!?! Imagine how her boyfriend feels!

it ain't easy being a 97 pound guy while dating her

14 posted on 12/19/2004 1:12:31 AM PST by Lazamataz ("Stay well - Stay safe - Stay armed - Yorktown" -- harpseal)
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To: Lazamataz

that's not a 'her' , it's an It ....


15 posted on 12/19/2004 1:44:23 AM PST by injin
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To: Lazamataz

I rest my eyes and after that I rest my convulsing stomach.

You are cruel.......ingeniously cruel.


16 posted on 12/19/2004 3:29:03 AM PST by beaver fever
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To: Lazamataz

"YOU??!?! Imagine how her boyfriend feels!"

You don't have to imagine- just check out the look on his face! Opps, I notice you can no longer see his face...


17 posted on 12/19/2004 5:07:14 AM PST by pkok (GW - There's "there" there, thank God!)
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To: nickcarraway
QUE. What do you say to an elephant blocking the road and demanding food?

ANS. "Help yourself!

18 posted on 12/19/2004 5:14:09 AM PST by albee (Those who desire peace should prepare for war.)
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To: nickcarraway

I once read about a group of adult elephants forcing a baby elephant to go into a small shed and steal beer, which I think is morally wrong.


19 posted on 12/19/2004 6:40:38 AM PST by ladylib ("Marc Tucker Letter to Hillary Clinton" says it all.)
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To: Lazamataz

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


20 posted on 12/19/2004 6:44:31 AM PST by sheik yerbouty
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