Bangkok: One hundred cow skulls have been discovered scattered along the roadside between Manjakiri and Khok Pho Chai districts, causing a foul odor and public alarm. According to a Facebook post, the headman of Kut Khao Subdistrict, along with villagers, was seen loading over 40 cow skulls into a small dump truck for disposal through burning, following complaints from locals about the unpleasant smell and unsightly view along the Manjakiri-Khok Pho Chai road near Ban Khum Din, Moo 4, Kut Khao Subdistrict.
According to Thai News Agency, reporters visited Mr. Somphop Daengrayap, 43, the headman of Kut Khao Subdistrict, who was cleaning his dump truck after using it to transport the skulls. Remnants of the skulls, flesh, and hide were still visible on the truck. Mr. Daengrayap shared that villagers had been disturbed by the sight and smell of cow skulls dumped along the roadside over the past few days. It is common for the village leaders to patrol the area, but this time, the sheer number of skulls required immediate action.
The initial suspicion is that these skulls originated from a slaughterhouse, likely discarded due to their lack of commercial value. However, pinpointing the exact source remains a challenge. Mr. Daengrayap collected around 40 skulls, with approximately 20 more still left. He dismissed any connection to sacrificial rituals or black magic, suggesting instead that the heads were unsellable and lacked proper disposal avenues. The skulls were scattered across a 2-kilometer stretch from the temple to Ban Hua Fai, indicating they were dumped over several days.
The local administration plans to consult with the village headman and district officer to identify potential sources, such as local butcher shops or slaughterhouses. They emphasize the need for cooperation to prevent future incidents, urging these establishments to properly manage waste instead of resorting to roadside dumping.
Reporters later visited the site where the cow skulls were gathered and burned within a remote part of a public forest. They observed small flames burning inside the piled skulls, with some scattered further away, likely moved by animals. This incident has highlighted the need for better waste management practices to prevent similar occurrences in the future.