8-1-2025 (PHUKET) A Thai elephant mahout has been charged with criminal negligence following the death of a Spanish tourist who was fatally injured whilst bathing an elephant at a sanctuary in southern Thailand.
Thai authorities confirmed on Monday that Theerayut Inthaphudkij, 38, faces legal proceedings after his elephant, a 45-year-old female named Phang Somboon, fatally wounded 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre.
García, who was on holiday with her boyfriend, suffered severe head trauma when the elephant struck her with its tusk during what was meant to be a routine bathing session. She was rushed to hospital but later succumbed to her injuries.
The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on Thailand’s lucrative elephant tourism sector, which generates substantial revenue but has long faced criticism from animal welfare organisations. According to World Animal Protection, approximately 3,000 elephants are currently held in tourist facilities across the kingdom.
Animal rights advocates argue that practices such as elephant bathing, whilst marketed as ethical tourism, can be highly stressful for the animals and may interfere with their natural behaviours. Wildlife experts examining the incident suggested the elephant’s aggressive response might have been triggered by stress from tourist interactions.
Jason Baker, senior vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), warned that facilities permitting close contact between tourists and elephants pose significant risks to both parties. “Any establishment allowing direct interaction with these magnificent creatures cannot be considered a genuine sanctuary,” Baker stated.
This is not an isolated incident in Thailand’s elephant tourism industry. Previous cases include a 2017 incident in Pattaya where an elephant killed a Chinese tour guide, resulting in criminal charges against both the camp owner and mahout. In another case from 2013, an elephant had its tusks removed after fatally attacking a visitor.
The victim, García, was a promising law and international relations student at Spain’s University of Navarra, undertaking an exchange programme in Taiwan. She had arrived in Thailand for holiday on 26 December 2024 with her partner, who witnessed the tragic event.
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares confirmed that diplomatic staff at the Spanish consulate in Bangkok are providing assistance to García’s family during this difficult time.
