Elephant Attacks Tourist at Thailand Sanctuary, Killing 22-Year-Old

A 22-year-old tourist was killed by an elephant at a sanctuary in Thailand after the animal turned on her while she was giving it a bath, according to local media reports.

The incident occurred on Friday, January 3, at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre, where the tourist, Blanca Ojanguren García, from northwest Spain, was bathing an elephant alongside her boyfriend. The elephant attacked her, and she was rushed to the local hospital, where she died.

Background

García was a law and international relations student at Spain’s University of Navarra, and she was living in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program. She had traveled to Thailand on vacation with her boyfriend.

Reaction

The University of Navarra’s law faculty issued a statement on Friday, sharing its condolences and asking for prayers. The mayor of Valladolid, where García is from, also shared his condolences with her family, friends, and schoolmates.

Investigation

The owner of the sanctuary told El Mundo that García and her boyfriend were among a handful of tourists at the centre that day, and were joined by approximately 10 staff to bathe the animals. The owner also stated that the elephant struck the woman with its trunk, and no one else was injured in the attack.

Experts’ Analysis

Experts told local media that the elephant was likely stressed by the pressure of living and interacting with tourists. The Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre says online that it is committed to “providing responsible and ethical interactions with elephants” and does not “control” or “use a hook on our elephants.”

Elephant Attacks in Thailand

Visiting with elephants is a popular tourist activity in Thailand, and while the creatures are mostly considered to be gentle giants, they occasionally attack visitors. According to El Pais, in the past 12 years there have been 240 fatal incidents involving elephants in Thailand, including 39 last year. Asian elephants are considered an endangered species, and about 2,800 of the animals are held in captivity in tourism facilities across Thailand, according to figures from World Animal Protection.

Conclusion

The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible and ethical treatment of animals in tourism facilities. It is crucial to prioritize the welfare and safety of both humans and animals involved in these interactions.

FAQs

Q: What happened to the tourist?
A: The tourist, Blanca Ojanguren García, was killed by an elephant at a sanctuary in Thailand after the animal turned on her while she was giving it a bath.

Q: What was the tourist doing at the sanctuary?
A: García was bathing an elephant alongside her boyfriend at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre.

Q: How many fatal incidents involving elephants have occurred in Thailand in the past 12 years?
A: According to El Pais, there have been 240 fatal incidents involving elephants in Thailand in the past 12 years, including 39 last year.

Q: How many Asian elephants are held in captivity in tourism facilities across Thailand?
A: According to figures from World Animal Protection, about 2,800 Asian elephants are held in captivity in tourism facilities across Thailand.