Tragedy in Thailand: Mahout Arrested Following Elephant Attack that Claimed Tourist’s Life

Thai authorities have accused a mahout after an elephant under his supervision fatally attacked a Spanish visitor last week.

Theerayut Inthaphudkij, aged 38, was charged with causing death through negligence, local officials announced on Monday.

The victim, 22-year-old Blanca Ojanguren García, was bathing the elephant at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in southern Thailand when she was assaulted by the creature.

This incident has reignited worries about Thailand’s thriving elephant tourism sector, which animal rights organizations have consistently condemned as both unethical and perilous.

Advocates argue that washing elephants disrupts their natural grooming behaviors and can cause injuries, leading to unnecessary stress for the animals.

Following the incident, specialists indicated that the elephant may have experienced stress due to interactions with visitors.

García suffered a head injury and later passed away in the hospital after being pushed by the tusk of 45-year-old female Phang Somboon. Her partner, who was accompanying her at the time, witnessed the attack.

It is estimated by international charity World Animal Protection that there are nearly 3,000 elephants confined in tourist venues throughout Thailand.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) informed the BBC in a statement that “such events underscore the risks posed to both humans and animals.”

“Any ‘sanctuary’ that permits humans to touch, feed, wash, or closely engage with elephants in any capacity is not a sanctuary for elephants and endangers the lives of both tourists and animals,” commented Peta senior vice president Jason Baker.

Similar negligence charges have previously been filed against mahouts whose elephants have killed tourists.

In 2017, an owner of an elephant camp and a mahout were charged with recklessness leading to death and injuries after an elephant killed a Chinese tour guide and injured two visitors in the beach town of Pattaya. In 2013, a 27-year-old elephant had its tusks removed after it attacked and killed a woman.

García, a student of law and international relations at Spain’s University of Navarra, was residing in Taiwan as part of a student exchange initiative. She and her boyfriend arrived in Thailand on December 26, 2024.

Spain’s foreign minister, Jose Manuel Albares, stated that the Spanish consulate in Bangkok is providing assistance to García’s family.

Additional reporting by Kelly Ng