CNN —A Spanish woman was gored to death by an elephant while bathing the animal at a sanctuary in southern Thailand on Friday, according to local police. Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, 22, and her boyfriend were giving a bath to an elephant at Koh Yao Elephant Care center when the animal seemed to “panic” and pierced her with its tusk, police told CNN. Bathing elephants at animal sanctuaries is a popular activity for tourists in Thailand, which is home to both wild and domesticated populations. CNN has reached out to the elephant care center and Spain’s embassy in Thailand for comment. Experts estimate the wild elephant population in Thailand has dwindled to 3,000-4,000, a decline from more than 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century.

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Persons: Blanca Ojanguren Garcia, Koh, Garcia, Charan Bangprasert, ” Organizations: CNN Locations: Thailand, Koh Yao, Thailand’s, Phuket