Young Spanish Tourist Killed While Bathing Elephant in Thailand

Yao Yai, Thailand, Phangnga Province

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.
The Spanish consulate in Bangkok has been in close contact with García’s family, offering necessary consular support and assistance during this difficult time. García’s death adds to a growing list of incidents involving elephant attacks in Thailand, with the Department of National Parks reporting 240 deaths from wild elephant attacks over the past 12 years, including 39 in 2024 alone.

Photo credit Daily Mail

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Adam Judd
Mr. Adam Judd is the Chief of Content, English language, of TPN Media since December 2017. He is originally from Washington D.C., America, but has also lived in Dallas, Sarasota, and Portsmouth. His background is in retail sales, HR, and operations management, and has written about news and Thailand for many years. He has lived in Pattaya for over a decade as a full-time resident, is well known locally and been visiting the country as a regular visitor for over 15 years. His full contact information, including office contact information, can be found on our Contact Us page below. Stories please e-mail Editor@ThePattayanews.com About Us: https://thepattayanews.com/about-us/ Contact Us: https://thepattayanews.com/contact-us/