A 22-year-old Spanish woman was tragically killed by an elephant during a seemingly innocent bathing activity, igniting a debate on the treatment of elephants in tourism.
Tragic Incident: Spanish Tourist Killed by Elephant in Thailand
Tragic Incident: Spanish Tourist Killed by Elephant in Thailand
A young woman's death raises questions about the ethics of animal tourism in Thailand.
On Friday, while engaged in a bathing activity at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Thailand, a "panic-stricken" elephant gored 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García, resulting in her death, as reported by local police. The young woman, who was pursuing studies in law and international relations at Spain's University of Navarra, was residing in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program and was in Thailand with her boyfriend, who witnessed the tragic event.
Experts have speculated that the elephant may have been stressed due to interactions with tourists that disrupt its natural behavior. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain's foreign minister, confirmed that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok is working to support García's family during this difficult time.
Thailand is home to over 4,000 wild elephants and a similar number in captivity, and bathing elephants is a well-known tourist activity. The Koh Yao centre’s elephant care packages range from 1,900 baht ($55; £44) to 2,900 baht, allowing tourists to feed, shower, and walk with these majestic creatures. However, animal rights activists have long condemned such practices, citing that they interfere with the elephants' natural grooming habits and contribute to their stress and potential injury.
World Animal Protection, an organization dedicated to animal welfare, has campaigned against the breeding of elephants in captivity and reported that over 60% of elephants in the tourism sector across Asia are kept in poor conditions. The charity emphasizes that elephants are complex social animals that suffer greatly when their natural communities are disrupted.
Experts have speculated that the elephant may have been stressed due to interactions with tourists that disrupt its natural behavior. Jose Manuel Albares, Spain's foreign minister, confirmed that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok is working to support García's family during this difficult time.
Thailand is home to over 4,000 wild elephants and a similar number in captivity, and bathing elephants is a well-known tourist activity. The Koh Yao centre’s elephant care packages range from 1,900 baht ($55; £44) to 2,900 baht, allowing tourists to feed, shower, and walk with these majestic creatures. However, animal rights activists have long condemned such practices, citing that they interfere with the elephants' natural grooming habits and contribute to their stress and potential injury.
World Animal Protection, an organization dedicated to animal welfare, has campaigned against the breeding of elephants in captivity and reported that over 60% of elephants in the tourism sector across Asia are kept in poor conditions. The charity emphasizes that elephants are complex social animals that suffer greatly when their natural communities are disrupted.
