Young Spanish Tourist Killed While Bathing Elephant in Thailand

22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García, a Spanish tourist from Valladolid, was fatally injured by an elephant while participating in a popular tourist activity at an elephant park on the Thai island of Yao Yai, reported international press such as the Telegraph and Daily Mail. The incident unfolded on January 3rd 2025.

García, who was studying law and international relations at the University of Navarra, was in Thailand as part of a holiday during her study abroad program in Taiwan. She was engaged in the act of bathing an elephant, a common and sought-after experience for tourists, when the animal suddenly struck, causing her death. Early reports suggested that García had been gored by the elephant’s tusk, but this was later clarified as incorrect by Spanish news agency EFE, stating she was knocked over by the elephant’s trunk.

The event occurred in the presence of her boyfriend and 17 other individuals, none of whom were harmed during the incident. The exact circumstances leading to the elephant’s reaction have been subject to investigation.

The elephant park in question, whose full name has been withheld by TPN Media pending further investigation by authorities, has since temporarily closed its operations pending further inquiries into this tragic event.

Thailand hosts a significant population of elephants, both wild and domesticated, with an estimated 4,000 in sanctuaries, national parks, and nature reserves, and a similar number involved in tourist activities. However, the welfare of these animals, particularly those in tourism, has long been a concern for some, mostly western based, animal rights organizations.