Tourist gored to death by elephant at Thai sanctuary

A Spanish woman tragically lost her life after being gored by an elephant at a sanctuary in southern Thailand on Friday. 

The victim, 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, was bathing the elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Center when the animal unexpectedly panicked and struck her with its tusk.

Garcia, who had been visiting Thailand with her boyfriend, was participating in the popular tourist activity of bathing elephants at the center, located on Koh Yao Yai island. 

The couple had been enjoying their visit to the sanctuary, which attracts tourists staying on the nearby island of Phuket.

Following the incident, the owner of the sanctuary immediately notified local authorities. An investigation into the event is now underway, according to police chief Charan Bangprasert of Koh Yao district.

Elephants, Thailand's national symbol, have long been a focus of both conservation and tourism. However, their wild populations have significantly declined due to various factors, including poaching, logging, and loss of habitat. 

Experts estimate the number of wild elephants in Thailand has dropped from over 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to a mere 3,000-4,000 today.

At the same time, the number of elephants in captivity has surged by over 130% in the past decade. Approximately 2,800 elephants are now held in captivity across Thailand, many of them used for tourism.