A Myanmarese man was trampled to death by wild Asian elephants in southwest China's Yunnan Province on Tuesday, local authorities announced Wednesday.
The tragedy happened at about 2 a.m. Tuesday when rampaging elephants tore through a watermelon field in Meng'a Township in Menghai County, the prefecture government in Xishuangbanna said in a statement.
The 29-year-old victim had been in China since Monday noon, it said.
To avoid further such tragedies, local authorities called for better monitoring of wild elephants and an education campaign for villagers.
Wild Asian elephants are under state protection in China, about 300 live mainly in Yunnan Province. Enhanced protection for wild animals has seen the mammals' number rise in recent years, but cases of clashes with humans have also increased, according to the local government.
Wild Asian elephants killed two villagers in Xishuangbanna last month and killed a third in Pu'er City of Yunnan on June 6.
