A Spanish tourist was tragically killed by an elephant while bathing the animal at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in southern Thailand, local authorities confirmed on Monday.
The 23-year-old woman, whose identity is being confirmed by the Spanish embassy, was struck by the elephantโs trunk during what police described as a โpanic-strickenโ moment for the animal.
The incident occurred in Phang Nga province, according to police chief Jaran Bangprasert, who told AFP, โA female tourist was killed while bathing an elephant.โ
The sanctuary, which typically offers interactive experiences with elephants, declined to provide further details about the fatal incident when contacted.
The tragedy highlights a growing concern over human interactions with elephants in Thailand.
According to the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, wild elephants have killed 227 people, including tourists, in the past 12 years.
Last month, a 49-year-old woman was fatally attacked by an elephant at a national park in Loei province in northern Thailand.
However, such attacks at sanctuaries, where elephants are typically trained for tourism, remain rare.
Bathing elephants is a popular tourist activity in Thailand, which is home to approximately 2,800 elephants held in captivity for tourism purposes, according to World Animal Protection.
Visitors often consider it a highlight of their trips, but animal rights groups warn that such interactions can distress the animals.
Some sanctuaries in Thailand have banned bathing and other activities deemed harmful to the elephantsโ well-being.
The recent incident is likely to reignite debates about the ethics of using elephants for tourism and the safety measures in place at sanctuaries.
While encounters between villagers and wild elephants are more common, this incident underscores the need for stricter regulations and better understanding of elephant behavior in controlled environments.
Authorities are continuing their investigation into the incident, and the victimโs family has been notified through the Spanish embassy.