Celebrity elephant kills owner in Thailand

An elephant that has starred in feature films and commercials crushed its owner to death in Thailand, zoo officials said yesterday, sparking fresh debate over the kingdom's animal tourism industry.

The accident took place Monday morning in the northern city of Chiang Mai, just after owner Somsak Riengngen unchained the five-tonne elephant Ekasit.

With a mahout, or handler, on his back, Ekasit took a few steps before reversing course and attacking 54-year-old Somsak, who was on the ground.

"The elephant suddenly turned back and used his trunk to grab the victim. Then the elephant used his trunk to crush him," Wuthichai Muangman, acting director of Chiang Mai Zoo, told AFP.

Wuthichai, who described Somsak as an "elephant expert," said the 32-year-old animal was in musth -- a state of high aggression accompanied by a hormonal surge -- when the accident happened.