2 Elephant Handlers Killed in Vietnam*

The Associated Press
Monday, May 21, 2007; 5:50 AM

HANOI, Vietnam -- A domesticated elephant killed two handlers in
northern Vietnam apparently after being forced to work without eating,
an official said Monday.

Le Van Lanh, 42, and his assistant Ha Van Hoang, 46, died Saturday after
being gored by the elephant's tusk in the forest in Truong Xuan village
in Thanh Hoa province, said village chief Ngan Van Thiep.

The one-tusked male elephant, which is more than 20 years old,
apparently became angry and attacked its handlers after being forced to
haul more trees from the forest without being fed Saturday morning, he said.

Thiep said the elephant, which killed another worker in 1994, was being
chained and village authorities have asked the provincial government for
advice on what they should do with the animal.