A 22-year-old Spanish law student, Blanca Ojanguren, died on Friday at Koh Yao Elephant Care sanctuary in Thailand. According to reports, the incident occurred while she was bathing an elephant.
El Mundo reported that Ojanguren was visiting the sanctuary on Yao Yai Island with her boyfriend. The sanctuary stated that a 50-year-old elephant fatally struck Ojanguren with its trunk during the bathing interaction, in the presence of approximately 18 other people.
Following the incident, Ojanguren was transported to a local hospital but succumbed to her injuries. The sanctuary subsequently closed temporarily.
Experts suggest the elephant may have been stressed due to interactions with tourists, although official details regarding the cause of the attack remain unreleased.
Koh Yao Elephant Care offers tourist packages priced between $50 and $85, featuring two-hour sessions that combine elephant encounters with activities such as cooking classes and kayaking. The sanctuary’s website emphasizes educational guided tours focusing on elephant behavior and well-being.
While elephants are generally gentle creatures, they can pose a lethal threat when stressed. A 2022 incident in Thailand’s Phang Nga province saw an elephant kill a person; the elephant’s distress was attributed to overwork in hot weather.
Save the Asian Elephants CEO Duncan McNair highlighted the sensitivity of elephants to stress and abuse, emphasizing that they are wild animals capable of deadly attacks when distressed by human actions.
In contrast to the close-contact interactions offered at Thai elephant sanctuaries, many US zoos prohibit visitors and staff from touching elephants. The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries notes significant variations in sanctuary quality, highlighting the need for better regulation and distinguishing reputable facilities from those providing inadequate animal care.
Koh Yao Elephant Care did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and further information is being sought from wildlife experts.