A mahout faces charges after an elephant killed a Spanish tourist in Thailand, raising concerns about animal treatment in tourism.
Phang Nga: So, there was this tragic incident in Thailand where a mahout got charged after his elephant killed a Spanish tourist. It’s really sad.
The mahout, Theerayut Inthaphudkij, was looking after this female elephant named Pgang Somboon. The tourist, Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, was just trying to give the elephant a bath when things went horribly wrong.
She was only 23 and on holiday with her boyfriend. Unfortunately, she ended up getting gored by the elephant and later died in the hospital. Just heartbreaking.
Now, the mahout could face up to 10 years in prison and a hefty fine. Eyewitnesses said the elephant got startled when Blanca moved in front of it, which led to the tragic accident.
Experts say the elephant might have been stressed from all the interactions with visitors. It’s a real eye-opener about how these animals are treated in tourism.
This incident has sparked a lot of discussions about elephant tourism in Thailand. Activists are raising concerns about how these elephants are trained and treated, claiming it’s often cruel.
Blanca had just arrived in Thailand a week before the incident. She was studying law and international relations in Spain but was living in Taiwan for her studies.
Her family has been notified, and her body is being examined. Sadly, this isn’t the first time something like this has happened in Thailand.
Back in 2017, another elephant killed a tour guide and injured others. It’s a serious issue that needs more attention.
