Police said it took Mr Klui an hour to calm Plai Somjai down and bring it with the Chinese couple and their daughter back to camp safely. Plai Somjai later had no problems letting the three tourists off his back.
They were not physically harmed in the incident, but were reported to be severely traumatised.
“Kwan (mahout) Klui was able to control Plai Somjai because he used to care for this elephant when he was young,” Mae Wang police investigator Pol Lt Col Supoj Jun-Keao said.