This is the shocking moment an elephant whacked a tourist with its trunk while she posed for a picture.

Medical student Julia Candela, 22, was taking photos with the jumbos when the irritated animal suddenly turned on her at an elephant park in Chiang Mai, Thailand on August 6.

The holidaymaker was left stunned and surprised after the incident but was not hurt.

Julia, from Spain, said: 'I understand why the elephants reacted the way they did. I was standing too close to them, and I was also making loud noises. They might have seen me as a threat.'

Footage shows the Spanish holidaymaker smiling for the camera as a pair of pachyderms playfully coiled their trunks around her waist. While her friend was recording her, the elephant turned its head to the side, knocking Julia down in the dirt

Julia said that it is important to be aware of the risks involved in interacting with wild animals, even if they are being kept in captivity. She also advised tourists to give elephants space and to avoid making any sudden movements.

The incident has prompted calls for stricter safety measures at elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. The Thai government has said that it is investigating the incident and that it will take action if necessary.

As of 2023, there are an estimated 3,084-3,500 wild elephants in Thailand. The population has been increasing in recent years, but it is still a fraction of the estimated 300,000 wild elephants that lived in Thailand at the beginning of the 20th century. The main threats to wild elephants in Thailand are habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and conflict with humans.