• A 23-year-old Spanish tourist was killed by an elephant while bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand.
• The elephant, described as “panic-stricken,” hit the tourist with its trunk at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province.

A tragic incident occurred at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province, southern Thailand, where a 23-year-old Spanish tourist was killed by an elephant while bathing the animal. According to police, the elephant, described as “panic-stricken,” hit the tourist with its trunk, resulting in fatal injuries.

Jaran Bangprasert, the local police chief, confirmed the incident, stating that authorities have contacted the Spanish embassy to confirm the victim’s identity. The sanctuary has declined to provide further details about the incident.

This incident highlights the risks associated with interacting with wild animals, even in controlled environments. According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, wild elephants have killed 227 people, including tourists, in Thailand over the past 12 years.

Bathing elephants is a popular tourist activity in Thailand, where approximately 2,800 elephants are held in captivity for tourism purposes. However, animal rights groups argue that such activities can cause distress to the animals, and some sanctuaries in Thailand have opted not to offer elephant bathing experiences.