Blanca Ojanguren Garcia was hit by the animal’s trunk and succumbed to her injuries. Experts say the elephant may have panicked
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, a 22-year-old Spanish tourist, died last Friday after being attacked by an elephant while bathing it in Thailand.
The young woman was visiting the Koh Yao Elephant Care center, on the island of Yao Yai, in southwestern Thailand, with her boyfriend.
Blanca Ojanguren Garcia was hit by the animal’s trunk and was later transported to a local hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.
According to the local press, experts say the elephant may have panicked, overwhelmed by its stress to interact with tourists throughout the day.
In 2024, 39 people died this way in Thailand
The Koh Yao Elephant Care center remains closed, with no date for reopening, but says it is committed to “providing responsible interactions” with elephants.
According to data from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, in the last 12 years around 240 deaths caused by attacks by wild elephants have been recorded in Thailand. In 2024 alone, there were 39.
