Tourist killed by elephant at sanctuary in Thailand

A tourist has been killed in front of her boyfriend and other visitors while bathing an elephant in Thailand.

A tourist has been killed by an elephant during a bathing experience in Thailand.

A 23-year-old Spanish woman was washing the animal at an ‘Elephant Care Centre’ on the island of Ko Yao Yai when she was hit by the stressed elephant’s trunk, local police have said.

Bathing elephants is a popular activity among tourists visiting the country, costing $161 at this particular centre.

“A female tourist was killed while bathing an elephant,” Jaran Bangprasert, the local police chief, confirmed to AFP.

The sanctuary declined to provide details of the incident when contacted by AFP.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported the woman’s boyfriend was there, as well as a small group of other tourists, when she was killed.

The victim has been named as university student Blanca Ojanguren García.

A 23-year-old woman has been killed while bathing an elephant in front of other tourists. Picture: Nathalie Jamois/Majority World/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Jesús Julio Carnero, the mayor of Valladolid in Spain, wrote in a social media post: “My deepest condolences to Blanca Ojanguren’s family.”

Meanwhile, Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, told BBC that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok was assisting her family.

The outlet said Ms García was studying law and international relations in Spain but was currently living in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program.

Blanca Ojanguren Garcia. Picture: X / Jesus Julio Carnero

World Animal Protection, a charity which works to reduce the number of captive elephants used in commercial tourism, says there are about 2800 captive elephants used for tourism in Thailand.

“Where possible, we always advocate seeing wild animals in the wild, where they are free to roam and act in natural ways,” the charity advises tourists. “If not, you can still find elephant sanctuaries that put the elephants’ needs first and give them the freedom to be elephants.”

There are about 2800 captive elephants used for tourism in Thailand, according the World Animal Protection. Picture: Stephanie Meng / Biosphoto via AFP

World Animal Protection urges people not to assume venues with “sanctuary” in the name are responsible and not to do an experience where you can touch any elephants or play with baby elephants.

The charity instructs tourists to look out for venues that allow elephants the freedom to act naturally, such as walking long distances, eating and socialising with other elephants.

Wild elephants have killed 227 people, including tourists, in the past 12 years, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.

An elephant killed a 49-year-old woman at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand last month.

While encounters between villagers and wild elephants are common, attacks at sanctuaries remain rare.

– with AFP