Vacationers journey elephants on a seashore on Thailand’s island of Koh Chang, on April 9, 2023. FILE PHOTO/Agence France-Presse
BANGKOK — A “panic-stricken” elephant killed a Spanish vacationer whereas she was bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand, police stated on Monday.
The 23-year-old lady was hit by the confused animal’s trunk on the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre in Phang Nga province, in keeping with police.
“A feminine vacationer was killed whereas bathing an elephant,” Jaran Bangprasert, the native police chief informed AFP.
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Authorities have contacted the Spanish embassy to substantiate the sufferer’s id.
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The sanctuary declined to supply particulars of the incident when contacted by AFP.
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Wild elephants have killed 227 folks, together with vacationers, prior to now 12 years, in keeping with the Division of Nationwide Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation.
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An elephant killed a 49-year-old lady at a nationwide park in Loei province in northern Thailand final month.
Whereas encounters between villagers and wild elephants are frequent, assaults at sanctuaries stay uncommon.
Bathing elephants is a well-liked exercise amongst guests in Thailand, the place about 2,800 elephants are held for tourism functions throughout the nation, in keeping with World Animal Safety.
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Nonetheless, animal rights teams argue that bathing elephants may cause them misery and a few sanctuaries within the nation don’t permit it.
