Elephant Panics at Fireworks Display, Injures Several at Fair

[Yagoda]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:09 AM, Jonathan Swift said:

Elephants are trained to respond to the touching of their ears, it's like pulling on the reins of a horse. So what was done was actually a sensible attempt to calm it down.

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You cant educate the uneducable.

 

So the scenario here is that the animals handler erred and injuries were caused. Thats all that is said by this scenario. Could have happened with a whole array of animals, viz:, wild, human domesticated, self domesticated or tamed.

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:09 AM, Jonathan Swift said:

Elephants are trained to respond to the touching of their ears, it's like pulling on the reins of a horse. So what was done was actually a sensible attempt to calm it down.

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And did it work !! NO  something wrong with the training ?

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:15 AM, Yagoda said:

You cant educate the uneducable.

 

So the scenario here is that the animals handler erred and injuries were caused. Thats all that is said by this scenario. Could have happened with a whole array of animals, viz:, wild, human domesticated, self domesticated or tamed.

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Erred !!  he put people lives at risk !!  it was a typical no thinking  thai wanting money!

[steven100]

It's well known that elephants like to go to their local fair.  But they don't like the Ferris wheel or the dodgem cars, they find it difficult to fit in the seat.  

[Yagoda]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:21 AM, MikeandDow said:

Erred !!  he put people lives at risk !!  it was a typical no thinking  thai wanting money!

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Elephants are expensive to feed and most mahouts will feed the elephant before their family. Many of these mahouts are Kuy, their culture revolves around the elephant and has for centuries.

[Yagoda]

 

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:17 AM, MikeandDow said:

And did it work !! NO  something wrong with the training ?

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If you knew anything about the subject other than what you get on Instagram you would realize that instinctive behavior in trained wild animals, domesticated animals and self domesticated animals is sometimes not so easily turned off: cattle, horses, pigs, dogs all can act unpredictably to stimuli. Since instinctive reactions by any animal are a function of chemicals as well as "mind", the important thing is to recognize what stimuli secure a reaction and to determine methods to ensure that no reaction occurs or is uncontrollable.

 

 

[Sydebolle]

Albert Einstein © 
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Elephants, like literally all other animals, be it cattle, domestic animals like dogs or cat, panic completely around fireworks. Is it the hissing sound or the colourful kaleidoscopic palette of light - I do not know. 

But, as said, everybody knows, that animals are scared sh*t whenever fireworks are lit for the pleasure of humans ....... I am not a do-gooder or a tree-hugger but quite obviously we all could do without fireworks which scare almost animals to death - just saying! 

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:44 AM, Yagoda said:

 

If you knew anything about the subject other than what you get on Instagram you would realize that instinctive behavior in trained wild animals, domesticated animals and self domesticated animals is sometimes not so easily turned off: cattle, horses, pigs, dogs all can act unpredictably to stimuli. Since instinctive reactions by any animal are a function of chemicals as well as "mind", the important thing is to recognize what stimuli secure a reaction and to determine methods to ensure that no reaction occurs or is uncontrollable.

 

 

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I see you now have,  introduced another big word "self domesticated" do you know what it means !!  What has"Instagram"got to do with it ?? not a member!  

you need to understand Domestication isn't the same thing as taming or training

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:44 AM, Sydebolle said:

Albert Einstein © 
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."

Elephants, like literally all other animals, be it cattle, domestic animals like dogs or cat, panic completely around fireworks. Is it the hissing sound or the colourful kaleidoscopic palette of light - I do not know. 

But, as said, everybody knows, that animals are scared sh*t whenever fireworks are lit for the pleasure of humans ....... I am not a do-gooder or a tree-hugger but quite obviously we all could do without fireworks which scare almost animals to death - just saying! 

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Elephants are NOT domesticated  they are "wild " but take you point NO animal should be around fireworks

[Sydebolle]

  On 1/20/2025 at 5:01 AM, MikeandDow said:

Elephants are NOT domesticated  they are "wild " but take you point NO animal should be around fireworks

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I am aware of your point; my statement said clearly "Elephants, like literally all other animals, be it cattle, domestic animals like dogs or cats"; I do not consider elephants or cattle "domesticated". Apart from that, the fear of fireworks (unknown why actually) is well documented and should be avoided as it is - in all fairness - nothing but blowing money into the sky of the night 😞 

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 5:50 AM, Sydebolle said:

I am aware of your point; my statement said clearly "Elephants, like literally all other animals, be it cattle, domestic animals like dogs or cats"; I do not consider elephants or cattle "domesticated". Apart from that, the fear of fireworks (unknown why actually) is well documented and should be avoided as it is - in all fairness - nothing but blowing money into the sky of the night 😞 

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When you think about it, the fear of fireworks for animals, is basically the same as it would be for humans, but more painful,

Animals, perceive sounds much louder than humans because they can hear better. so the noise can be painfull for them,They associate such noises with danger, and all their (survival-) instincts tell them to run to a place of safety.

The flashes of light produced by fireworks seem just as threatening as the noises.

What’s more, the lights and noises are accompanied by smoke and acrid smells.

The noises and lights from fireworks can trigger an animal's fight-or-flight response.

I think if i was that elephant and fireworks were let off near me i would run !!  but Thais do not think about the consequences of there actions or about the safety, all they think about is money!

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

The manner in which the article is presented suggests a poor relationship with its rider. Domesticated elephants are usually given a name and not referred to as 'it' and a good sympathetic trainer can develop a deep personal relationship with his animal leading to a bond of trust. Seems to me this 'trainer' was treating the elephant as a rental.

[sambum]

Sheer stupidity to have fireworks going off anywhere near animals - especially big ones!

[sambum]

  On 1/20/2025 at 6:44 AM, MikeandDow said:

When you think about it, the fear of fireworks for animals, is basically the same as it would be for humans, but more painful,

Animals, perceive sounds much louder than humans because they can hear better. so the noise can be painfull for them,They associate such noises with danger, and all their (survival-) instincts tell them to run to a place of safety.

The flashes of light produced by fireworks seem just as threatening as the noises.

What’s more, the lights and noises are accompanied by smoke and acrid smells.

The noises and lights from fireworks can trigger an animal's fight-or-flight response.

I think if i was that elephant and fireworks were let off near me i would run !!  but Thais do not think about the consequences of there actions or about the safety, all they think about is money!

 

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"..........Thais do not think about the consequences of there actions or about the safety, all they think about is money!"

 

100% correct! And the rest of your post is spot on too!

[sambum]

  On 1/20/2025 at 4:44 AM, Yagoda said:

 

If you knew anything about the subject other than what you get on Instagram you would realize that instinctive behavior in trained wild animals, domesticated animals and self domesticated animals is sometimes not so easily turned off: cattle, horses, pigs, dogs all can act unpredictably to stimuli. Since instinctive reactions by any animal are a function of chemicals as well as "mind", the important thing is to recognize what stimuli secure a reaction and to determine methods to ensure that no reaction occurs or is uncontrollable.

 

 

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".....dogs all can act unpredictably to stimuli."

 

True - hence all the (sometimes fatal!) attacks by Pit Bulls/XBullies on their owners and passers by.

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 8:36 AM, PETERTHEEATER said:

The manner in which the article is presented suggests a poor relationship with its rider. Domesticated elephants are usually given a name and not referred to as 'it' and a good sympathetic trainer can develop a deep personal relationship with his animal leading to a bond of trust. Seems to me this 'trainer' was treating the elephant as a rental.

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Elephants are not and have never been domesticated

Elephants require brutal training to accept human contact. Even then, they retain their natural instincts which are meant for the wild.

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 9:02 AM, sambum said:

 

".....dogs all can act unpredictably to stimuli."

 

True - hence all the (sometimes fatal!) attacks by Pit Bulls/XBullies on their owners and passers by.

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Exactly!

 

 

[Shocked farang]

  On 1/20/2025 at 2:59 AM, MikeandDow said:

Think you need to look up the word domestication and its meaning !!!

Elephants are not and have never been domesticated

Elephants require brutal training to accept human contact. Even then, they retain their natural instincts which are meant for the wild.

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Exactly, this is what I have always suspected, the elephant human interactions look so fake and unreliable. The elephant will at any time become the wild animal it's always been. 

[MikeandDow]

  On 1/20/2025 at 2:16 PM, Shocked farang said:

Exactly, this is what I have always suspected, the elephant human interactions look so fake and unreliable. The elephant will at any time become the wild animal it's always been. 

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Elephants are timid creatures, have a social order, but dont get me wrong they are powerful and are a  wild animal, people say, (mahout) they have a special bond, that is BS,"Yes" you can have a special bond with a wild animal with mutual love and respect, but these mahout give brutal training using a elephant goad which is a sharp hook attached to a handle, and is often made of bronze or steel,it can cause injury and even blindness to elephants. in Thailand its just about Money!! Thais dont care about the elephant they just see it as a money making machine for the tourist Its ashame !!!

[Sydebolle]

  On 1/20/2025 at 6:44 AM, MikeandDow said:

When you think about it, the fear of fireworks for animals, is basically the same as it would be for humans, but more painful,

Animals, perceive sounds much louder than humans because they can hear better. so the noise can be painfull for them,They associate such noises with danger, and all their (survival-) instincts tell them to run to a place of safety.

The flashes of light produced by fireworks seem just as threatening as the noises.

What’s more, the lights and noises are accompanied by smoke and acrid smells.

The noises and lights from fireworks can trigger an animal's fight-or-flight response.

I think if i was that elephant and fireworks were let off near me i would run !!  but Thais do not think about the consequences of there actions or about the safety, all they think about is money!

 

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That's the actual clip of the incident; the elephant must have been terrified 

[PomPolo]

And in next years event:
"Stroke the tiger and swim with the crocodiles"