From Ananova: “Wild elephants went on a rampage in southeastern Bangladesh and killed three people, including two children.

“Nearly a dozen villagers were injured on Friday and Saturday during the attacks by a herd of 13 elephants in Bandarban district, Bangladesh’s Sangbad Sangstha news agency reported.”

Those trampled to death were sleeping in their homes in Kumari, a village 155 miles southeast of Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital.

Last month, wild elephants killed nine people in this region, according to local residents.

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for PETA, Zoey Freebird, argued that while she doesn’t condone the “obvious acts of defiance committed by these noble animals lashing out,” nevertheless, she cautions, “we shouldn’t be too quick to judge the proud, 5-ton creatures, who are, after all, herbivores.”

Ms. Freebird pointed out that Asian elephants “are known for their memories — which must necessarily include the memories of atrocities committed against their ancestors by man in his rapacious lust for ivory.” She suggested further that “to understand these attacks, we must first understand the ‘root causes’ that compel these otherwise gentle creatures to wage war against their would-be oppressors.” Ms. Freebird ended by muttering a few things about “context” before excusing herself to enjoy a bowl of lightly-salted peanuts.

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