A Spanish tourist lost her life while visiting an elephant center in Thailand on Friday. The incident occurred at Koh Yao Elephant Care, where she bathed an elephant.
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As per local authorities in Koh Yao Yai, Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, was allegedly struck by the trunk of the 50-year-old elephant while she was bathing it. Despite 18 witnesses being present during the incident, including Garcia’s boyfriend, no one else was injured. Garcia was quickly taken to a local hospital but, unfortunately, died from her injuries, according to PEOPLE.
The elephant center has currently shut down temporarily, and the owner has not yet issued a statement. Furthermore, it encountered criticism after the incident. Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the consulate in Bangkok is collaborating with Garcia’s family to offer support.
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Faculty from Garcia’s school, the University of Navarra, expressed their condolences to her loved ones and asked for prayers towards her family on X(formerly Twitter). Valladolid Mayor Jesús Julio Carnero also paid homage, offering “deepest condolences” to her loved ones alongside a photograph of the young woman.
CBS News also reported that a 49-year-old woman lost her life due to an elephant incident at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand last month. Elephants are a popular tourist attraction in Thailand, where bathing them draws many visitors, and there are more than 2,800 elephants kept in different locations.
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