Spanish tourist’s dream trip turns deadly at Thai elephant care centre
In a heart-wrenching incident, a 22 year old Spanish tourist tragically lost her life after being attacked by an elephant she was bathing in Thailand. The shocking event unfolded at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in the picturesque Phang Nga province’s Koh Yao district.
During what was supposed to be a serene bathing session, things took a horrific turn when the elephant unexpectedly drove its tusk into the tourist, Blanca Ojanguren García, resulting in her untimely death.
Wildlife experts suggest the elephant may have been under stress from living outside its natural habitat and enduring constant interaction with tourists. In Thailand, bathing with elephants is a major draw for tourists seeking close encounters with these majestic animals.
Thailand’s Department of National Parks reports that over 4,000 wild elephants can be found in sanctuaries, parks, and nature reserves.
Meanwhile, a similar number of domesticated elephants are used predominantly for tourist entertainment. World Animal Protection has raised alarms over the estimated 2,798 elephants kept in tourism venues across the country, many of whom are reportedly kept in isolation and forced to perform unnatural acts.
The non-profit organisation has previously criticised the harsh training methods employed by some handlers, which reportedly include punishment-based techniques involving sticks or sharp metal objects.
A staff member from the centre disclosed that García, in the midst of bathing the elephant, inadvertently stepped in front of it, leading to the fatal incident. The sanctuary has since been closed in response to the tragedy, reported Bangkok Post.
Hailing from Valladolid in northwest Spain, García was a law and international relations student at the University of Navarra. She was also an active member of the university’s security and defence club. As part of the Erasmus academic exchange programme, García was residing in Taiwan and was visiting Thailand as a tourist.
Accompanying her on the ill-fated trip was her boyfriend, an infantry cadet from Oviedo, who witnessed the horrifying event.
Spain’s Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, confirmed that the consulate in Bangkok is offering support following García’s tragic death.