A young woman was killed by Asian elephant At a shelter in Thailand on Friday, during a bathing session, something went wrong, according to officials.
Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported over the weekend that Spanish national Blanca Oganjuren, 22, was visiting an elephant care center on Koh Yao on Yao Yai island with her boyfriend at the time of the incident. I studied law at the University of Navarra at that time.
Koh Yao Elephant Care told the Spanish outlet that a 50-year-old elephant pushed Oganjuren with its trunk while bathing him, causing the fatal blow. There were about 18 people at the shelter at the time, including the victim's friend.
The shelter owner said that the tourist was taken to a local hospital, where she later died. The business was temporarily closed as a result.
Blanca Oganjuren, 22, was visiting an elephant care center on Koh Yao on Yao Yai island at the time of her death. (Equestrian Federation of Castile and Leon via Facebook)
Experts told the Argentine newspaper Clarin that the elephant was likely stressed due to interacting with tourists outside its natural environment, but officials did not reveal details about the reasons that led to the attack.
Koh Yao Elephant Care offers tour packages ranging from US$50 to US$85, according to its booking website. The company offered two-hour sessions with the elephants that included activities ranging from cooking classes to kayak sessions.
“Visitors often have the opportunity to join guided tours led by experienced staff who educate guests about elephant behavior, biology and the mission of the refuge,” the website states. “This experience allows for a close encounter with these magnificent animals while respecting their well-being.”
Elephants, they are very cute smart animals, They are known to occasionally kill humans when they are in physical and psychological distress. In 2022, an Asian elephant She tore up her coach In half with Nabha in Phang Nga Province in Thailand.
Officials later discovered that the elephant's trainer had asked him to transport the wood to a rubber plantation in hot weather, confusing the animal.
Boon Thong elephants, Ronaldo and his mother lie moored on a hill near Mae Sapok village on July 21, 2020, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. (Lauren DeSica/Getty Images)
At the time, Duncan McNair, CEO of Save the Asian Elephants, told Newsweek that elephants are sensitive to mistreatment and can become stressed by human behavior.
“(This is) another stark reminder that Asian elephants are, and always will be, wild animals that can attack and kill when abused or overly stressed by humans,” McNair said.
In zoos in the United States, visitors and most employees are typically prohibited from touching elephants. But elephant sanctuaries in Thailand attract tourists with the promise of close interaction with the animals.
According to the World Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, the quality of animal sanctuaries, including elephant sanctuaries, varies widely.
“It is a poorly regulated industry, where facilities that keep animals in deplorable conditions can set themselves apart compared to those of higher quality,” the website states. “For anyone investing in the care of captive animals, there is a need to differentiate between the best sanctuaries and rescues to determine where money is best invested, where the need for help is greatest, who provides a model to follow and who can be turned in times of crisis.”
Asian elephants are gentle animals but can still kill humans in certain situations. (Istock)
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Koh Yao Elephant Care did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. Fox News Digital has reached out to wildlife experts for more information.
