The dark secrets of Thailand’s elephant tourism industry

[george]

Photo courtesy of The Nation

 

In a recent interview, concerns about the welfare of domesticated elephants have surged. These gentle giants, pivotal to Thailand’s economy since ancient times, now face a crisis that threatens their very existence.

 

During the Rattanakosin era, domesticated elephants bolstered Thailand’s economy by logging. However, a tragic turn in 1988, when floods and landslides claimed lives, forced a shift. Former Agriculture Minister Sanan Kachornprasart’s swift action suspended logging, leaving elephants and their mahouts jobless.

 

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, as tourism plummeted, elephants suffered again. With parks shuttered, many mahouts returned home, while some turned to online shows to survive.

 

But beneath the surface of this lucrative industry lies a darker reality. Mahouts, wielding hooks and chains, raise concerns about animal welfare. Founder of the Save Elephant Foundation, Saengduean Chailert, exposes the separation of baby elephants from their mothers, risking their health and happiness, reported The Nation.

 

 

As cries for justice echo, experts demand accountability. Chief vet Taweepoke Angkawanish urges comprehensive care standards. He asserts that proper training, not abuse, is key to preserving these majestic creatures.

 

In related news, as Thailand marks the country’s National Elephant Day, authorities are rolling out ambitious plans to safeguard the majestic creatures and mitigate human-elephant conflicts. With a blend of innovation, community involvement, and legislative actions, the nation aims to secure the future of both wild and domesticated elephants.

 

In other news, Thailand stands accused of a sinister practice: the captive breeding of elephants for its lucrative tourism industry. But the horrors extend far beyond just elephants. Researchers have uncovered alarming findings, exposing the grim reality lurking behind the scenes of the wildlife entertainment industry.

 

In a study conducted by World Animal Protection (WAP), the scope of the issue is laid bare. An estimated 5.5 billion wild animals, spanning 487 species, endure cruel captivity worldwide, with elephants, bears, and lions among the most exploited.

 

-- The Thaiger 2024-04-13

 

[2long]

There's no such thing as a domesticated elephant. These naturally-wild animals are only able to serve humans after being broken.

I have been guilty of attending elephant shows in the past, but from now on I will have nothing to do with shows or working elephants. Like orang utans and Pata Zoo's gorilla, some creatures are beyond the point of being released into the wild, and 'sanctuary is the best that they can hope for.... but I still harbour mistrust in many ASEAN 'organisations' who claim to be santuaries.

[surreybloke]

Why are they allowed to drag these poor creatures around the streets.     I like those you tube videos of  the elephants in Khao Yai  . See them trashing cars when they do not get fed.    

[KhunLA]

#1 ... elephants never have been, or will ever be domesticated.   Scared into submission, yes, domesticated ... NO

 

2.  Didn't see it mentioned, but most if not all elephants are too young to have been saved from the logging industry, as banned long ago, and most don't live that long in captivity

 

3.  All can be returned to nature ... don't listen to the BS

 

4. Govt doing what .. still see them promoted in the tourist brochures.

 

Never attend or pay for any 'animal' camps, prisons, shows.  You just perpetuate the problem and are the reason it exists.  Wild animals belong in the wild.

 

You want to see wild elephants, in natural setting ... go here 

[dinsdale]

1 hour ago, george said:

In a recent interview, concerns about the welfare of domesticated elephants have surged. These gentle giants, pivotal to Thailand’s economy since ancient times, now face a crisis that threatens their very existence.

This paragraph is completre nonsense. "In a recent interview, concerns about the welfare of domesticated elephants have surged." This comes from "....a recent interview, ....". One interview does not equal a surge. Complete rubbish. As for a threat to their very existence I doubt this is the only reason. Another AI article by The Thaiger Chat GPT who apparently do not proof read or edit AI articles or do it very poorly.

[AndyAndyAndy]

Well, nice job posting this. Now it's not secret anymore! 😤🤬

[transam]

1 hour ago, 2long said:

There's no such thing as a domesticated elephant. These naturally-wild animals are only able to serve humans after being broken.

I have been guilty of attending elephant shows in the past, but from now on I will have nothing to do with shows or working elephants. Like orang utans and Pata Zoo's gorilla, some creatures are beyond the point of being released into the wild, and 'sanctuary is the best that they can hope for.... but I still harbour mistrust in many ASEAN 'organisations' who claim to be santuaries.

Same as horses, I would have thought, that have served man for many a millennia....🤔

[Excogitator]

Having been to a couple of the places offering elephant-rides, the animals there showed clear signs of stress. Sad..

[transam]

5 minutes ago, Excogitator said:

Having been to a couple of the places offering elephant-rides, the animals there showed clear signs of stress. Sad..

How do you know that......?  🤔

 

[Excogitator]

1 minute ago, transam said:

How do you know that......?  🤔

 

Normally, caged and chained elephants (and other animals in captivity) will have a certain behaviour indicating stress, typically repetitive and monotonous motions with head and body.

 

If you've been around animals a bit, you learn to recognise such signs and behaviours.

[transam]

9 minutes ago, Excogitator said:

Normally, caged and chained elephants (and other animals in captivity) will have a certain behaviour indicating stress, typically repetitive and monotonous motions with head and body.

 

If you've been around animals a bit, you learn to recognise such signs and behaviours.

😂............Are you a vet.........😂.....?

 

Horses in stables, sheep in pens, elephants in shackles in case they pull their stable down.

Before steam, depending on the country, Ox, Horse and Elephant were used to do the work, even fight in wars, now surely their job was way more stressful than those entertaining tourists.......🤭..................😉

 

 

Edited April 13 by transam

[rexpotter]

2 hours ago, surreybloke said:

Why are they allowed to drag these poor creatures around the streets.     I like those you tube videos of  the elephants in Khao Yai  . See them trashing cars when they do not get fed.    

We humans have done a great job on this earth? Too many of us and  too little of the rest of the beautiful creatures we once shared this place with.

[Robert Paulson]

Tourists paying to see and ride the elephants is the origin of the problem. This is so often the case. We blame the wrong people. Constantly 

[transam]

1 minute ago, Robert Paulson said:

Tourists paying to see and ride the elephants is the origin of the problem. This is so often the case. We blame the wrong people. Constantly 

Do people ride horses......?

[Robert Paulson]

4 minutes ago, transam said:

Do people ride horses......?

You cannot be serious; you do know these are wild animals, right? These aren’t animals that have been bred for human enjoyment. Or you don’t realize it? Either way, once again, you just cannot make it up.
 

What you’re doing is like comparing a dog to an atrocity with a tiger. It’s not really the same thing. I hope you can get it one day. 

[Excogitator]

11 minutes ago, transam said:

😂............Are you a vet.........😂.....?

 

Horses in stables, sheep in pens, elephants in shackles in case they pull their stable down.

Before steam, depending on the country, Ox, Horse and Elephant were used to do the work, even fight in wars, now surely their job was way more stressful than those entertaining tourists.......🤭..................😉

 

 

I'm guessing you're trolling, and that you don't really find any of this amusing.. because if you do,  it would make you one very sad and depraved individual..

[Robert Paulson]

You really cannot make this place up.

 

“We have dogs so we should be able to take or an orca out of the wild to create a revenue stream off the suffering of these wild animals”.

 

its on par with the level of sophistication of thaivisa posts 

Edited April 13 by Robert Paulson

[youreavinalaff]

With many of the forests, the elephants natural habitat, cut down, the only real alternative is euthanasia.

 

Is that what people want? It's not what the mahouts want. Most of the experiences I have had with elephants and their mahouts have been good ones.

 

The elephants have been in the lower Issan area, predominately Surin, for centuries. The Gui people being the original mahouts.

 

Maybe it is the humans that should move away from the elephants' territory.

 

Don't forget to release the buffaloes, dogs, horses and any other animals that might be deemed "domesticated" on the way out.

[Robert Paulson]

“By golly we have horses so we should be able to domesticate and abuse wild tigers, it’s our right” lol

[transam]

1 minute ago, Robert Paulson said:

You cannot be serious; you do know these are wild animals, right? These aren’t animals that have been bred for human enjoyment. Or you don’t realize it? Either way, once again, you just cannot make it up.
 

What you’re doing is like comparing a dog to an atrocity with a tiger. It’s not really the same thing. I hope you can get it one day. 

Most animals are born wild, man domesticates many to do jobs, those elephants at fun parks do not do any hard work, give rides and frolic in pools.

 

Did you forget before mechanisation elephants were trained to work, and work hard, in some countries they still do, yet you think giving rides and frolicking in pools is bad........😂

 

[Robert Paulson]

Orcas were one of the best examples of this btw. If you ever went to sea world they used the poor animals in their shows. Sometimes even resulting in human death as I remember. At some point they discontinued the orca shows, uhhh, yeah… are we getting it yet, or are we still retorting with “but horses” lol

[transam]

7 minutes ago, Excogitator said:

I'm guessing you're trolling, and that you don't really find any of this amusing.. because if you do,  it would make you one very sad and depraved individual..

Problem is, you don't like the facts I put forward, and bring out the troll card....

Big girls blouse........🤔

[youreavinalaff]

11 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

You cannot be serious; you do know these are wild animals, right? These aren’t animals that have been bred for human enjoyment. Or you don’t realize it? Either way, once again, you just cannot make it up.
 

What you’re doing is like comparing a dog to an atrocity with a tiger. It’s not really the same thing. I hope you can get it one day. 

" animals bred for human enjoyment"?

 

Isn't that a contradiction?

 

Are there no wild horses? Aren't horses historically wild?

 

You do know that the majority of elephants in the shows and on the streets have been born in captivity, don't you?

Edited April 13 by youreavinalaff

[Robert Paulson]

3 minutes ago, youreavinalaff said:

" animals bred for human enjoyment"?

 

Isn't that a contradiction?

 

Are there no wild horses? Aren't horses historically wild?

 

You do know that the majority of elephants in the shows and on the streets have been born in captivity, don't you?

You need to ask yourself why people are allowed to have dogs and not lions from Africa. It’ll answer a lot of your questions for you, because I can see I won’t be able to help you

[youreavinalaff]

Just now, Robert Paulson said:

You need to ask yourself why people are allowed to have dogs and not lions from Africa. It’ll answer a lot of your questions for you, because I can see I won’t be able to help you

I don't recall mentioning lions.

 

No need for me to ask myself anything.

 

I did, however, ask you 5 questions.  As yet, unanswered questions.

[Excogitator]

17 minutes ago, transam said:

Problem is, you don't like the facts I put forward, and bring out the troll card....

Big girls blouse........🤔

How do you know anything about my likes and experiences at all? You just keep making wild assumptions. 

 

I am not an animal rights activist or extremist at all. I have both hunted animals, and cared for animals.

 

I have been to elephant camps in more rural settings where the animals were just fine, living under good conditions, in a natural setting, with lots of space and movement.

And I have been to elephant camps in more urban areas, where the animals were crammed together, exposed to extreme heat, noise and crowds, and who were miserable.. It's the latter I object to.

Edited April 13 by Excogitator

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Excogitator said:

How do you know anything about my likes and experiences at all? You just keep making wild assumptions. 

 

I am not an animal rights activist or extremist at all. I have been to elephant camps in more rural settings where the animals were just fine, living under good conditions, in a natural setting, with lots of space and movement.

And I have been to elephant camps in more urban areas, where the animals were crammed together, exposed to extreme heat, noise and crowds, and who were miserable.. It's the latter I object to.

Miserable elephants..........Are you a vet.......?

 

Do the elephants at the Thai park regularly kill tourists, go on the rampage, are they starved, or do tourists give them treats.......?

Are the tourists in the same heat as the elephants....?
 

I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.........😯

[transam]

35 minutes ago, Robert Paulson said:

You need to ask yourself why people are allowed to have dogs and not lions from Africa. It’ll answer a lot of your questions for you, because I can see I won’t be able to help you

I think that is obvious, but in some countries folk do have lions as pets, even bears..🤔

[Robert Paulson]

The stories you get in this place are priceless. I mean never a dull party conversations with these stories. 
 

“I was talking to a guy and he said we should be able to abuse wild elephants, and use the obviously miserable animals and profit from their suffering”

 

”why did he think that”

 

”because people ride horses”

 

lmfao 

[Excogitator]

3 hours ago, transam said:

Miserable elephants..........Are you a vet.......?

 

Do the elephants at the Thai park regularly kill tourists, go on the rampage, are they starved, or do tourists give them treats.......?

Are the tourists in the same heat as the elephants....?
 

I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill.........😯

So you were serious... okay, whatever, enjoy songkran, alone and miserable, in your 5000b/month room, watching animal-abuse vids on youtube...