Poacher killed, Elephant as well

What a sad story:

A shootout between a gang of poachers and elephant handlers in Laos left one man and one pachyderm dead, news reports
said Tuesday.

The gang allegedly attacked the mahouts at midnight on August 9 in Hinheup district, Vientiane province, in an attempt to slaughter four elephants for their ivory and body parts, district governor Chanpaeng Douangphachan told the Vientiane Times.

Chanpaeng said the poachers fired upon the mahouts, sparking a brief shootout before the elephant minders fled and informed authorities. When police arrived at the scene they found one dead poacher and one dismembered pachyderm.

"From our initial investigation, we have learnt how the poachers worked together as a gang. We are quite positive that the details we have about the dead man will lead us to tracking down his friends," Chanpaeng said.