A student’s death is a tragic reminder why wild animal entertainment must stop
Blog
The recent death of Blanca Ojanguren García, a 22-year-old Spanish student, is a tragedy that highlights the urgent need to rethink our relationship with wild animals in tourism. Blanca lost her life while bathing a captive elephant in Thailand, a heartbreaking event that should never have occurred in the first place.
No tourist should face such danger, and no wild animal should be forced into unnatural and stressful situations for human entertainment.
The elephant involved in this incident was likely under immense stress caused by being confined and forced to interact with tourists outside of its natural habitat. Despite claims of ethical and animal-friendly practices, many tourist venues mislead visitors into thinking that elephants are happy being touched, washed or made to perform with convincing promises of “responsible” or “natural” interactions.
The reality for most elephants used in tourism is far from ethical. Captive elephants are often subjected to cruel training methods, deprived of social bonds, and forced to perform activities that go against their instincts. Bathing with elephants, for example, may seem harmless, but it disrupts their wellbeing and places both tourists and animals at significant risk.
Use our guide to find the right venue for you and for elephants
Elephant-friendly tourist guide
The best place to see elephants is in the wild. But if you are planning to visit an elephant venue, make sure it allows elephants to be elephants, while informing visitors of their complex needs.
Read the guideTravel companies must do better
The tragedy of Blanca’s death is a reminder of the responsibility travel companies have in shaping safe and ethical tourism. They promote cruelty and place unsuspecting tourists in harm’s way by promoting activities that exploit wild animals all in the name of profit.
It’s time for travel companies to take a stand. They must stop marketing harmful wild animal entertainment experiences and instead provide alternatives that respect wildlife and their habitats.
Tourists within close proximity to captive elephants at a venue
Be a responsible tourist
As travellers, we too hold power. By making conscious choices, we can protect wildlife from exploitation and prevent tragedies like this.
Here are some ways to ensure your adventures are ethical and wildlife-friendly:
- Avoid venues offering direct interaction with wild animals, such as riding, feeding, or bathing.
- Research sanctuaries carefully as many that claim to be ethical may still exploit animals.
- Support genuine wildlife conservation efforts where animals are observed in their natural habitat without interference.
Responsible travel isn’t just about avoiding harm, it’s about creating positive change. We must end the cycle of suffering and ensure a future where wild animals are left to thrive in their natural environments, free from exploitation.
As Katheryn Wise, our Wildlife Campaign Manager, said:
“This is a tragedy, and our thoughts are with Blanca Ojanguren García’s family. Elephants are large, unpredictable wild animals and should never be used for tourist entertainment. The tourist industry overlooks the huge risk to tourists and staff during these interactions as well as the animal suffering involved. As long as this continues, heartbreaking tragedies like this will continue to happen to unsuspecting tourists.”