A tragic incident occurred at a wildlife sanctuary in southern Thailand when a Spanish woman was fatally injured by an elephant. Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, was bathing the elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care center when the animal appeared to panic and gored her with its tusk, according to local police.
Garcia was visiting Thailand with her boyfriend, and they were on Koh Yao Yai island, a popular spot for tourists traveling from nearby Phuket. The couple had been enjoying the experience of bathing the elephant, a common tourist activity in the country, where both wild and domesticated elephants are present.
Following the incident, the sanctuary’s owner immediately informed local authorities, and an investigation has been launched. Koh Yao district police chief Charan Bangprasert confirmed the details.
Elephants, Thailand’s national symbol, have faced a severe decline in their wild populations due to threats like poaching, habitat loss, and the impact of tourism. It is estimated that the country’s wild elephant population has dropped to between 3,000 and 4,000, a sharp decrease from over 100,000 at the start of the 20th century.
In contrast, the number of elephants held in captivity has risen sharply, with an increase of 134% from 2010 to 2020. Today, approximately 2,800 elephants are kept in various tourism-related settings across Thailand.
The international non-profit World Animal Protection has frequently raised concerns about the welfare of elephants in captivity, highlighting risks to both the animals and tourists.
