Tragedy in Thailand: Spanish student killed by elephant
Sad news has emerged from Valladolid in northern Spain. A young woman from this city lost her life on Friday in Thailand. According to the website "Diario de Valladolid," the cause of her death was an elephant attack.
The attack occurred at Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre on the Thai island of Koh Yao Yai, situated in the Andaman Sea. The tourist was attacked while bathing the elephant, which, for unknown reasons, pierced her with its tusk.
The deceased 22-year-old woman was a student of law and international relations at the University of Navarra, according to Spanish media reports.
"Washing elephants is a common activity in recreational centres for elephants in Thailand. These animals also participate in shows for tourists to cover the costs of their upkeep," noted the newspaper "El Pais".
According to the newspaper, this is the first fatal elephant attack of the year. Over the last 12 years, there have been 240 fatal incidents involving these animals; most were caused by wild elephants attacking areas inhabited by people due to the loss of their natural habitat. In 2024 alone, 39 people have died.
