Mother of Scottish man killed by elephant in Samui says arrested mahout not to blame

The mother of the Scottish man who was killed by a male elephant named Golf in must while trekking in Samui earlier this year says she has nothing but sympathy for the Burmese handler arrested after her son’s death.

Gareth Crowe 36, was on vacation in Samui with his wife Catherin Huges, 42 and his stepdaughter Eilidh who witnessed the accident. Mother Jane, 61, from Dunoon Argyll said that even though Saw Win Tun had dismounted the elephant to take photographs he did not go out of his way to cause the accident and it was not his fault that the elephant had lost control. However police in Koh Samui believe that Saw Win Tun had neglected his duty when he climbed down to take the holiday snaps, just prior the elephant throwing Gareth and his Stepdaughter of its back and spearing Gareth with its tusk. The case is ongoing.

While many animal rights groups are calling for tourists to boycott activities that involve wild animals some members of the Burmese community in Samui believe that Saw Win Tun is simply another victim of local discrimination against Burmse migrant workers.

Photo credit Thai PBS

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