Local authorities in Dak Wil Commune said a group of three residents entered a forest to collect wild honey on June 11 when they discovered the body of a man. The remains were severely damaged, and elephant footprints and droppings were found nearby.
Officials in Dak Wil Commune approach an area where wild elephants had previously appeared (Photo: Van Minh).
After receiving the report, officers from Dak Wil Commune Police and other investigative units arrived at the scene to examine the case.
The victim was identified as a 65-year-old local resident.
Authorities said the body was discovered in a densely forested area within Dak Wil Commune.
The circumstances surrounding the man's death are under investigation, although initial observations have raised suspicions that a wild elephant may have been involved.
The incident follows a similar case recorded in October 2025, when a 66-year-old man in Dak Wil Commune was also found dead in what authorities suspected was a wild elephant attack.
Local officials said they have been working with relevant agencies to raise public awareness and advise residents on how to avoid encounters with wild elephants in the area.
Authorities have urged people to avoid spending nights in forests or travelling through forested areas unnecessarily in order to reduce the risk of human-elephant conflict.
The Dak Wil Commune administration has also instructed police, forest rangers and forest protection units to strengthen patrols and strictly prohibit hunting or harming wild elephants.
