VIDEO: Elephants brutally beaten at prestigious polo event in Bangkok

 

 

Video footage has emerged of an elephant being beaten at a prestigious polo event in Thailand.

The footage, which was shared by animal rights group PETA allegedly shows handlers beating elephants with bullhooks and violently yanking their ears at the 2018 King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Bangkok.

PETA said one elephant was hit the hook at least 15 times.
 

PETA is now demanding the companies who sponsor the event, such as IBM, Peroni, Johnnie Walker and PwC withdraw their support.

"As it is a weekend we have been unable to raise this issue with our colleagues in Thailand but will do so as soon as possible, a spokesperson for PWC told Sky News.

"While we cannot comment on this specific situation at the moment, we would of course not support any form of animal cruelty."

The four day event was held at the Anantara Riverside hotel in Bangkok this weekend. 

A spokesperson said it "strongly condemned the mistreatment of any elephant at any time" and confirmed the handlers who were filmed in the video have been fired.

Anantara Hotels & Resorts said it "is deeply committed to improving the lives of elephants and the behaviour in the video is wholly contradictory to the purpose, the intentions and the rules that have been implemented for the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament over the past 16 years".

It added: "Prior to each tournament, all mahouts [elephant trainers/keepers], who originate from traditional mahout villages in north eastern Thailand, are required to confirm that they will comply with a strict code of conduct when they are selected to participate in the tournament.

"Extra security has been arranged to oversee the well-being of the elephants for the remainder of the tournament and additional Positive Reinforcement Training Workshops are now being arranged in the traditional mahout village in North Eastern Thailand."

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai Visa News 2018-03-11

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

and confirmed the handlers who were filmed in the video have been fired

that's it ?!

Sure the handlers who abused the poor animal would be very upset of a woman sitting in Buddha's lap.....

Thai Buddhism is indeed very strange....

the fragile thai male ego insulted by the pakaderm......

Next time i will hear that an elephant has gored a human, i will not feel so sorry for that person...

It is really very very simple: Wild animals should not be used for our entertainment.......!!

Karma would be for these a$$wipes to be trampled to death. 

 

Spot the dumb brute in the video.

 

Not too difficult really.?

45 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Next time i will hear that an elephant has gored a human, i will not feel so sorry for that person...

Kinda depends if it was the one abusing the elephant or just a random victim.

Anything prestigious and wealth related in Thailand always seems to be associated with some sort of bad behavior. 

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

"Prior to each tournament, all mahouts [elephant trainers/keepers], who originate from traditional mahout villages in north eastern Thailand, are required to confirm that they will comply with a strict code of conduct when they are selected to participate in the tournament.

What a load of complete bullhooks!

Elephants are sentient beings and  intelligent creatures, unfortunately, the human beings upon their backs do not compare. Thailand should be ashamed, if that's at all possible. 

How farangs were thinking elephants learn to play polo?

1 hour ago, Just1Voice said:

Karma would be for these a$$wipes to be trampled to death. 

 

No, Karma would be as a Buddhist to be reborn - as an elephant

9 minutes ago, Borzandy said:

How farangs were thinking elephants learn to play polo?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_polo

"Elephant polo originated in Meghauli, Nepal. Tiger Tops in Nepal remains the headquarters of elephant polo and the site of the World Elephant Polo Championships.^[1]"

 

Asians invented polo, thus elephant polo was an extension of this sport, taken up by the British and others in the 19th century.

2 minutes ago, RichardColeman said:

No, Karma would be as a Buddhist to be reborn - as an elephant

Naw..elephants are noble creatures.So are black panthers,by the way.

Disgusting...... 

Never buy bananas from these morons who walk their poor enslaved elephants on Thailand's streets. 

39 minutes ago, ratcatcher said:

What a load of complete bullhooks!

Elephants are sentient beings and  intelligent creatures, unfortunately, the human beings upon their backs do not compare. Thailand should be ashamed, if that's at all possible. 

I note your use of the word "ashamed".

If one looks in an English-Thai dictionary for the meaning of guilt one will find two Thai words, kwam pit – ความผิด - meaning a wrong and kwam rooserk  pit – ความรู้สึกผิด -  translating as the feeling of having done wrong but in essence meaning the knowledge of having done wrong. My teacher devoted almost half of one lesson trying to answer my questions about the word for the feeling of guilt a Westerner and probably most other races feels when having done something sinful, immoral or criminal. Neither of those two words is adequate to describe that guilty feeling. Finally she gave up and admitted to me that Thai people don’t really feel guilt. What they feel is shame. My teacher had a good understanding of Western cultures and I was left with the feeling that she was embarrassed by her admission.

She then went on to explain that Thais can do bad things and do not feel anything for having done them. However, when other people know about what they have done they feel shame. If you look in the dictionary you will find there are many words that equate to the English word, shame. Note I don’t want Thai professors and other pedantic types debating me on this interpretation of guilt. I have since discussed this point with normal Thai speakers and they basically agree with me. Thais mostly only feel bad about doing bad things when others know they have done them. This is due to loss of “face”.

How farangs were thinking elephants learn to play polo?

Exactly...they are "trained" by hitting with sticks/hook and ear pulling...the elephant eventually remembers quite a few commands and tricks to perform.

Off course it would be very much better if the elephants had enough natural habitat..and be left alone,but some buggers keep cutting it all down and building another shopping mall.

And soi dogs are no 1 important animals in Thailand 

Again and again Thai show they beat and kill all animals and people but no no soi dogs are good 

We have strong animals law b. s. 

34 minutes ago, Henrik Andersen said:

And soi dogs are no 1 important animals in Thailand 

Again and again Thai show they beat and kill all animals and people but no no soi dogs are good 

We have strong animals law b. s. 

You seriously thought it was a good idea to divert attention from the appalling behaviour of a few humans towards the elephants at a polo event, to your hatred of soi dogs???

 

As far as I can make out, Thais are mostly horrified at the 'mahouts' behaviour  - in the same way as most would be horrified at killing soi dogs.

2 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Anything prestigious and wealth related in Thailand always seems to be associated with some sort of bad behavior. 

it was Mahoots behaviour not the players. Your remark is rather typical of working class prejudices against those better off.

It's a shame elephant are used as polo animals. Just as it is a shame they are used in circuses and other entertainment ventures worldwide.

Aaaah... the majestic national animal so highly revered by the Thais since centuries. So highly revered in fact that it has to be tortured into submission by their so-called handlers as a matter of routine. Make no mistake, it should be openly known that what we've seen in this video (and which oh so enrages the hypocritical Thai public) is an age-old disgusting tradition that is practiced by EVERY mahout.

 

Baby elephants are subjected to what in Thai is called "breaking the spirit". It involves burning the animal and beating it until it bleeds and this treatment continues without pause until the animal immediately complies with each and every of its mahout's commands. And indeed, the thus "trained" adult animal is of broken spirit, living in constant fear of that barbaric "elephant hook" that it has endured since it was a calf. If you have seen one of these close up, you'll understand. It is a torturing device, nothing else.

 

There you have it, another truth never mentioned in glossy TAT brochures.

 

Avoid "elephant camps" and tell all your friends to give them a wide berth as well. It's the best advice I can give. National animal? Every nation that treats their national animal like the Thais treat their elephants deserves every criticism that comes their way and more.

 

And  Anantara's comment that it allegedly "is deeply committed to improving the lives of elephants" and that "the behaviour in the video is wholly contradictory to the purpose, the intentions and the rules that have been implemented for the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament over the past 16 years" just rings of sheer cynicism and bigotry.

 

If they really care for these maltreated pachyderms, they should no longer hold that tournament. They solely hold it because it's a great PR vehicle for their hotel brand. It has got nothing at all to do with "improving the lives of elephants," but it's got everything to do with "improving brand awareness among consumers."  Nothing more, nothing less. The slit ears, the multiple scars on the trunk and on top of the head you so often see in older elephants are generally NOT the result of the animals hurting themselves, but they are the tell-tale signs of "training" and "disciplining" meted out by the loving handler with his hook. 

 

I apologize for my wild - but passionate - rambling. But it really had to be said.

Edited March 11, 20188 yr by Misterwhisper

Wildlife corridor indeed. Better make a Somchai corridor.

 

 

Think I'll change my Hotel booking ........it.s the only way.

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

that's it ?!

 

"Amazing" Thailand 

2 hours ago, Trentham said:

I note your use of the word "ashamed".

If one looks in an English-Thai dictionary for the meaning of guilt one will find two Thai words, kwam pit – ความผิด - meaning a wrong and kwam rooserk  pit – ความรู้สึกผิด -  translating as the feeling of having done wrong but in essence meaning the knowledge of having done wrong. My teacher devoted almost half of one lesson trying to answer my questions about the word for the feeling of guilt a Westerner and probably most other races feels when having done something sinful, immoral or criminal. Neither of those two words is adequate to describe that guilty feeling. Finally she gave up and admitted to me that Thai people don’t really feel guilt. What they feel is shame. My teacher had a good understanding of Western cultures and I was left with the feeling that she was embarrassed by her admission.

 

She then went on to explain that Thais can do bad things and do not feel anything for having done them. However, when other people know about what they have done they feel shame. If you look in the dictionary you will find there are many words that equate to the English word, shame. Note I don’t want Thai professors and other pedantic types debating me on this interpretation of guilt. I have since discussed this point with normal Thai speakers and they basically agree with me. Thais mostly only feel bad about doing bad things when others know they have done them. This is due to loss of “face”.

 

"She then went on to explain that Thais can do bad things and do not feel anything for having done them. However, when other people know about what they have done they feel shame. "

 

When they're caught out in other words,  the "shame" of having been exposed for what they are. 

 

Then comes violent outrage as a "justified" retribution, a handgun, machete or knife usually;  followed up with  an "understandable" loss of face mitigation acceptable to the police (and probable "donation").

 

All to be concluded with a reasonably acceptable Merit making effort in whatever Temple is convenient for the purpose.   

1 hour ago, gamini said:

it was Mahoots behaviour not the players. Your remark is rather typical of working class prejudices against those better off.

There is a certain big black cat that fell prey to elitists rifles.  He too might have had a prejudice against the well heeled.   The Mahoots are not wealthy, tis true, but it seems where ever there are wealthy people in Thailand, there is disregard, trouble and disappointment.   One would expect more from people who have more.   My problems are with wealthy people who are wealthy because they are wealthy and protected.   Other wealthy people are inspirational.  Few Thai elite can claim such a thing.   

Absolute sickening footage.

1 hour ago, dick dasterdly said:

You seriously thought it was a good idea to divert attention from the appalling behaviour of a few humans towards the elephants at a polo event, to your hatred of soi dogs???

 

As far as I can make out, Thais are mostly horrified at the 'mahouts' behaviour  - in the same way as most would be horrified at killing soi dogs.

Yes I don't like soi dogs they are dangerous and dog's not belong on streets running around after people and motorcycles and cause accident and probably meny are sick of rabies and put a soi dogs to sleep is not horrified it is a good thing to do they live a horrible life because Thai people just dumb them