Thai authorities have charged a mahout following the tragic death of a Spanish tourist who was gored by an elephant last week. Theerayut Inthaphudkij, 38, faces charges of negligence causing death, as confirmed by local officials.
The victim, 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García, suffered fatal injuries while bathing the elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in southern Thailand. Witnesses say the 45-year-old female elephant, named Phang Somboon, pushed her with its tusk, resulting in a severe head injury that led to her death in the hospital. García’s boyfriend was present during the attack.
This incident has reignited scrutiny over Thailand’s popular elephant tourism sector, which has faced criticism from animal rights advocates for being potentially harmful and exploitative. Activists assert that activities like elephant bathing disrupt the animals’ natural behaviors and can cause them significant stress.
Experts suggest that the elephant involved may have been agitated due to the tourist interaction, which raises concerns about the safety protocols in place at such facilities. Current estimates indicate that nearly 3,000 elephants are held within tourist attractions across Thailand.
Animal rights organization statements underscore the inherent risks in such environments, calling for stricter regulations. Similar negligence charges have been filed against other mahouts in past incidents involving tourist injuries or fatalities. In a 2017 case, an elephant killed a Chinese tour guide in Pattaya, leading to charges against the camp owner and mahout for reckless conduct.
Blanca García, a law and international relations student from Spain’s University of Navarra, had been in Taiwan as part of a student exchange program and arrived in Thailand on December 26. Spain’s foreign minister has indicated that the consulate in Bangkok is currently aiding her family following this tragic event.
