Two young elephants were found dead after being electrocuted by a fence protecting a fruit farm.

The jumbos wandered onto the land where mangoes were being grown in Chanthaburi, eastern Thailand.

Wildlife rangers found the elephants dead on Friday morning (June 19). They were identified from tracing as five-year-old Woaywai and four-year-old Estee.

The older creature had his left leg intertwined with the electric fence while the younger animal had his trunk laid on the same fence.

Officials said the older elephants was killed first before the younger heard him in distress and followed but was then also electrocuted.

They examined the fence and traced the generator to a nearby fruit grove.

Police arrived to collect evidence and summoned the land owner and the employees to be questioned about their fence.

Residents said that farmers were angry at the damage caused by wild elephants, which roam freely through Thailand's sprawling forests, and installed the fence to protect their land.

Som Suppatra said: "I believe there are only few fruit grove owners that tolerate the elephants. However, those who are not happy with the elephants usually deploy the electric fences to scare away the elephants but they are dangerous as they can also kill them.''

Police Colonel Noppadon Sutthiserm said the owner of the fence could be prosecuted for causing the death of elephants, which are protected in Thailand.

The policeman said: ''The autopsy on the bodies of the elephants will confirm the cause of death but if it as suspected, the owner of the land will be punished for killing the elephants.''

Elephants are a protected animal in Thailand and killing them carries a maximum prison term of up to three years and a fine of 1,000 baht (25GBP).