Panicked Elephant Kills Spanish Tourist in a Thai Reserve

A 23-year-old Spanish tourist tragically lost her life on Monday during a visit to a reserve in southern Thailand.

According to the Thai police, the tourist was attacked by a panicked elephant’s trunk while she was near the animal during its bath at an elephant care center in Phang Nga province.

Local police chief Jaran Bangprasert stated that the woman succumbed to her injuries, highlighting the dangers associated with interactions with elephants in such conditions.

Statistics from Thailand’s Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation reveal that wild elephants have caused the deaths of 227 people over the past 12 years, including tourists.

While confrontations between elephants and villagers are common, incidents within reserves remain relatively rare. Last December, wild elephants killed another woman, aged 49, in a national park in the north of the country.

Interacting with elephants remains a popular activity for visitors to Thailand, where approximately 2,800 elephants are used for tourism purposes, according to World Animal Protection. However, experts emphasize the need for enhanced safety measures to protect tourists and participants from potential risks.