Thailand: A mahout in Thailand has been charged with imprudence after an elephant in his care fatally injured a Spanish tourist. The victim, 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García, was struck in the head by the elephant while bathing it at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in southern Thailand. She later died from her injuries in the hospital.
The incident has reignited troubles over the safety and ethics of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry. Animal rights groups have long criticised elephant tourism for its impact on the animals, including disruptions to their natural behaviours and potential stress from human interaction.
The elephant involved in the fatal attack, a 45-year-old female named Phang Somboon, may have been stressed by the tourists, according to experts. García’s boyfriend was also attending during the incident but was unharmed.
Thailand is home to nearly 3,000 elephants used in tourism, with many being held in facilities that allow tourists to interact closely with the animals. Groups like People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) have warned that these dealings are dangerous for both tourists and elephants.
This is not the first such incident. In 2017, a mahout and camp owner were charged after an elephant killed a Chinese tour guide and injured two other tourists. A similar incident in 2013 also led to the death of a woman after an elephant attacked her.
García, a law student from Spain, had been living in Taiwan as part of a student exchange programme before travelling to Thailand with her boyfriend on December 26, 2024. Spain’s foreign minister confirmed that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok is aiding García’s family following the tragic event.
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