A tragic incident occurred at a sanctuary in southern Thailand where a 22-year-old Spanish woman lost her life while bathing an elephant. The woman, identified as Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, was with her boyfriend at the Koh Yao Elephant Care center when the elephant suddenly became agitated and fatally gored her with its tusk.
Bathing elephants is a popular tourist activity in Thailand, known for its wild and domesticated elephant populations. Garcia and her boyfriend were on a day trip to the center on Koh Yao Yai island, located near the popular resort island of Phuket.
Thailand, home to the national animal, the elephant, has seen a decline in its wild elephant population due to various threats such as tourism, logging, poaching, and habitat destruction. The current estimate suggests that there are only 3,000-4,000 wild elephants in Thailand, a significant decrease from over 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.
On the other hand, the number of captive elephants in Thailand has risen by 134% between 2010 and 2020. It is estimated that around 2,800 elephants are held in tourism venues across the country. Organizations like World Animal Protection have raised concerns about the exploitation of elephants in the tourism industry and the conditions in which they are kept.
According to World Animal Protection, elephants are highly intelligent animals with complex emotions and thoughts. The charity emphasizes the risks associated with managing elephants in captivity, especially when in direct contact with humans. They advocate for an end to captive breeding and improved conditions for elephants in tourism settings.
The incident at the sanctuary has prompted an investigation by local authorities, highlighting the need for responsible and ethical interactions with elephants in Thailand and around the world.
