Tourist elephant collapses and dies of a heart attack [Photos]

April 25, 2016 5:52 PM

Sambo thought to be aged between 40 and 45, had reportedly fallen to the ground near Bakheng Mountain in the archaeological park on Friday morning, April 22, 2016 and had not gotten back up.

Sambo the elephant giving rides at the Bayon Angkor Wat

A tourist elephant trained to carry tourists around at a religious shrine has reportedly

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The elderly elephant called Sambo had according to reports, been giving visitors lifts at Cambodia's famed, Angkor Wat since 2001 after she had begun working for the Angkor Elephant Company.

Sadly, Sambo thought to be aged between 40 and 45, had reportedly fallen to the ground near Bakheng Mountain in the archaeological park on Friday morning, April 22, 2016 and had not gotten back up.

Oan Kiri, manager of the Angkor Elephant Company, reveals that 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."

Phnom Penh Post reports that Sambo's collapse had come after she had taken two trips from Bayon Temple to Bakheng which reportedly took about 40 minutes on temperatures of around 40C.

Sambo's death has become the catalyst for a campaign by animal rights activists to stop the practice of using animals for rides especially at a personal gain.

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A Facebook post showing photos of Sambo on the ground has now been shared over 8,000 times with a change.org petition calling for the end of elephant riding in Angkor going online shortly thereafter and garnering more than 10,000 signatures.