Tourist Killed by Elephant at Sanctuary in Thailand

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A tourist has been killed in front of her boyfriend and other visitors while bathing an elephant in Thailand.

Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported the woman’s boyfriend was there, as well as a small group of other tourists, when she was killed.

The victim has been named as university student Blanca Ojanguren García.World Animal Protection, a charity which works to reduce the number of captive elephants used in commercial tourism, says there are about 2800 captive elephants used for tourism in Thailand.

“Where possible, we always advocate seeing wild animals in the wild, where they are free to roam and act in natural ways,” the charity advises tourists. “If not, you can still find elephant sanctuaries that put the elephants’ needs first and give them the freedom to be elephants.”

There are about 2800 captive elephants used for tourism in Thailand, according the World Animal Protection. World Animal Protection urges people not to assume venues with “sanctuary” in the name are responsible and not to do an experience where you can touch any elephants or play with baby elephants.The charity instructs tourists to look out for venues that allow elephants the freedom to act naturally, such as walking long distances, eating and socialising with other elephants.Wild elephants have killed 227 people, including tourists, in the past 12 years, according to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.An elephant killed a 49-year-old woman at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand last month.While encounters between villagers and wild elephants are common, attacks at sanctuaries remain rare.

[Old Hippie]

Any reports of how it happened? Or what happened?  During the Elephant round up and parade in Surin  this year, there were tons of tourists who walked behind the elephants and got a dung shower and sort of spooked some of the elephants. Here we have a problem with people “petting the fluffy cows” aka touching or getting too close to the wild bison…then there are the idiots who want to see how close they can get to the bears deer and elk…

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While not being an elephant expert I do believe they like to roll in the water. Not sure I'd won't to be next to one when it did.

[My Penis is hungry]

<<Blanca Ojanguren García, a law and international relations student at Spain’s University of Navarra, was washing the ‘panic-stricken’ elephant when it suddenly pushed her with its tusk, causing her to fall and strike her head. She was rushed to hospital but was unable to recover from her injuries.>>

 

I've found the more touristy places the elephants seem more at ease with people than the wild life rescue places which this place seemed to be.

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4 hours ago, My Penis is hungry said:

<<Blanca Ojanguren García, a law and international relations student at Spain’s University of Navarra, was washing the ‘panic-stricken’ elephant when it suddenly pushed her with its tusk, causing her to fall and strike her head. She was rushed to hospital but was unable to recover from her injuries.>>

 

I've found the more touristy places the elephants seem more at ease with people than the wild life rescue places which this place seemed to be.

Apparently the mahout has been charged with negligence. From what I know they were in a pond and she startled it by suddenly moving in front of it.

It gorged her with it's tusk and she fell hitting her head on the edge of the pond. Cause of death may have been from either injury.