Selfies have become so popular over the past few years that people race to get the best shots, even at the cost of their lives. Several have died while taking them.

Last month, two locals got dragged out to sea by strong waves while taking selfies at a Tulungagung beach in East Java. A month earlier, a high school student was killed after falling into a river while taking a selfie at a waterfall in Bogor, West Java.

The latest incident took place on Wednesday in Wonogiri, Central Java, when a female veterinarian was trampled to death by a male elephant she wanted to take a selfie with.

Esthi Octavia Warahapsari, the veterinarian, was severely injured after the incident and died on the way to a local hospital. The accident took place at a resort area in the compound of the Gajah Mungkur Dam, where the elephant was part of the entertainment.

Wonogiri Police chief Comr. Fachruddin said police were still investigating the incident, including seeking information about whether taking photographs of elephants at close range was allowed.

“No suspect has been named so far. We are still investigating the case. Now, officers are focusing the investigation at the incident scene,” he said.

Local tourism agency head Senthot Sujarwoko said the tragic event took place when Octavia, or Via, 25, with three handlers, Febri, Umar and Arif, were accompanying two elephants on a walk around the resort complex at about 8 a.m.

“Earlier, the victim and handlers fed and bathed the two elephants as part of their daily activities over the past month to introduce the elephants to their new environment,” said Senthot.

While walking the elephants, Via intended to take a selfie about a meter in front of the male elephant that was being ridden by the handler Arif. However, the elephant suddenly ploughed into the woman and flung her 3 meters through the air, causing Arif to fall off the animal’s back.

The handlers and some vendors tried to help Via, even as the 5.5-ton male elephant kept attacking. Via tried to run at one point but slipped and was trampled by the animal.

Via, a resident of Gemawang village, Bulukerto district, was rushed to the Soediran Mangun Sumarso Regional Hospital in Wonogiri, but died on the way.

“I don’t know exactly whether the elephant was startled when the victim took a picture, so we handed the case to the police to investigate,” said Senthot.

Senthot added Via had already been familiar with the elephant for a month. Almost every day she was seen playing with the elephant, which had been brought to the resort area in April.

Soediran Mangun Sumarso Hospital director Pratikto Widodo said Via was dead upon arrival at the hospital. Based on examination, the victim suffered a fractured sternum and leg. The victim also suffered bruises and cuts in the abdomen, back and head and bleeding in the chest.

“The wounds were very serious. We believe the victim died on the way to hospital,” said Pratikto.

Via graduated from the Airlangga University in Surabaya in 2013. For the past six months she has been a special contract worker for the resort area to take care of the two elephants granted by the Central Java Natural Resource Conservation Agency (BKSDA).

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