Tragic Elephant Encounter in Thai Sanctuary
A young Spanish tourist met a tragic end at a well-known sanctuary in southern Thailand, where she was participating in an elephant bathing activity. The incident occurred when a “panic-stricken” elephant struck her with its trunk, leading to her untimely death.
Details of the Incident at Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre
Police chief Jaran Bangprasert confirmed the grim event, stating, “A female tourist was killed while bathing an elephant.” The incident took place at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province. The victim, a 23-year-old woman, was identified by local authorities who have since reached out to the Spanish embassy for confirmation of her identity.
Sanctuary’s Response and Historical Context
The sanctuary itself has not elaborated on the specifics of the event when approached by AFP for comment. This incident adds to the grim tally of elephant-related fatalities, with 227 deaths reported over the last 12 years by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Just last month, another tragic event occurred when an elephant killed a 49-year-old woman in Loei province, highlighting the inherent risks of human-elephant interactions.
Tourism and Animal Welfare Concerns
While encounters with wild elephants are frequent in Thailand, attacks within controlled environments like sanctuaries are less common. Bathing elephants is a favored activity among tourists, with approximately 2,800 elephants kept for tourism purposes according to World Animal Protection. However, this practice is not without controversy. Animal rights advocates argue that such interactions can be harmful to the elephants, prompting some sanctuaries to ban the activity entirely.
