A tragic incident has drawn attention to the dangers of elephant tourism after a 22-year-old law student, Blanca Ojanguren García, was killed by an elephant at Koh Yao Elephant Care in Thailand. García was bathing the 45-year-old elephant, Phang Somboon, when the animal attacked and killed her. The sanctuary witnessed this harrowing event with 18 individuals present, including García's boyfriend. No other visitors sustained injuries.
Authorities arrested the sanctuary's handler for negligence following the incident. The attack has sparked discussions about the conditions of elephants in tourism and their potential danger to humans. According to Duncan McNair, an expert on animal welfare, the incident likely resulted from the elephant reacting to its conditions. He emphasized that mistreatment often begins before elephants enter sanctuaries.
McNair criticized the ethical standards of many sanctuaries, stating, "The vast majority of sanctuaries in Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, and Cambodia … are not ethical. They are brutal, and they do it all for money." He added that terms like 'sanctuary,' 'havens,' and 'orphanages' are often misleading and inaccurate.
The incident serves as a stark warning about visiting unregulated or unethical sanctuaries. McNair remarked, "With elephants who have been brutalized and abused for use in tourism, they are extremely dangerous. … Not only are these activities so catastrophic for the elephants, they're deadly dangerous for humans." He warned against placing inexperienced individuals in close proximity to animals with a history of abuse, describing it as "an absolute recipe for disaster."
While acknowledging that some sanctuaries treat elephants ethically, McNair advised tourists to conduct thorough research before planning their trips. He stated, “We want to try to steer the market of animal tourism from brutal to ethical,” emphasizing that the goal is not to shut down businesses but to promote ethical practices in animal tourism.
McNair has advocated for legislative changes to address animal welfare issues, including supporting the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act. His efforts in animal welfare led to him being named Legal Hero of the Year 2024 by the Law Society of England and Wales.
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