Just before her last trip on Saturday, an elephant servant which was trained to carry tourists around at a religious shrine has collapsed and died after
Sambo was snapped after she fell to the ground in 40C heat after a 40-minute ride for tourists
An elephant known as Sambo which was trained to carry tourists around at a religious shrine has collapsed and died after her last trip.
She was snapped after she fell to the ground in 40C heat after a 40-minute ride for tourists
The poor animal had been working in temperatures of 40C in Cambodia when she fell and couldn't get back up. She had been giving visitors lifts at Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat since 2001 when she started working for the Angkor Elephant Company.
The large elephant was thought to be between 40 and 45 years old
It was reported that on Friday morning, the animal thought to be aged between 40 and 45, fell to the ground in near Bakheng Mountain in the archaeological park and didn't get back up. Her death has been the catalyst for a campaign to stop the practice by animal rights activists.
Manager of the Angkor Elephant Company, Oan Kiri, said they were saddened by Sambo's death, adding: "After our veterinarian checked. . . we concluded that she died of heart attack due to high temperatures and lack of wind."
Elephant rides are common at the Bayon, Angkor Wat for Cambodian and foreign tourists
Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, is Cambodia's prime attraction for visitors.
After images of Sambo's body were shared online, with Facebook posts being shared up to 8,000 times, a petition has been launched on change.org saying it's time to end elephant riding at the Angkor archaeological park in Siem Reap, Cambodia.
Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world, is Cambodia's prime attraction for visitors
The petition explains that Sambo's death "should be the final wake-up call for the community and tourism industry to take the steps needed to end this horrific practice".