A hungry wild elephant killed a national park ranger after being disturbed while it was eating.

The jumbo raided a longan farm with its herd to gorge on the ripe fruits when it saw patrolling officer Somphop Sringam, 42, in Chanthaburi province, eastern Thailand, on September 14.

Irked as the hungry creature was interrupted from its feast, it attacked the man and trampled him down until he was left bloodied and lifeless on the scene.

The elephant reportedly fled the plantation after the incident and colleagues found the ranger's body lying on his back and covered with wounds around an hour later.

Mongkol Lertphonthip, the Pong Nam Ron district council chief, said: ‘Related agencies were asked to follow the wild elephant and pushed the herd further from the community. We also alerted the villages around the area.'

Before the incident, Somphop and fellow park rangers went on patrol in a longan garden to evacuate the jumbos that invaded the area. Terrified locals reported that a herd was destroying their harvest and sought the officers' help.

A team spread out on the farm with Somphop finding the lone aggressive jumbo at a spot in the orchard where it attacked him.

They later found the body of Somphop lying on his back with severe injuries all over his body. His colleagues believed a wild elephant did it because several large footprints and animal dung were found near the body.

A medic team attempted to revive him, but he was confirmed dead after unsuccessful tries. Disheartened colleagues then carried their ranger friend's body off the property and took him to Pong Nam Rong hospital for an autopsy.

Authorities said they had already informed Somphop's family about the incident and will donate an amount to help them provide a proper burial for the fallen ranger. They will return his body once the autopsy results are out and perform a religious ceremony for him.

Chief Mongkol added: 'We will do a donation drive for his family members to help them financially as he died on duty. We will coordinate with the agencies about it.'

Meanwhile, local officers and rangers were alerted and continuously patrolled around the area in case the aggressive elephant returned to the villages.

Elephant attacks have seen an increase in the province this month. Just three days before the Somphop's unfortunate death, Monk Phra Prajon Suksing, 66, was killed by a bull elephant in musth when he passed by an empty parking lot.