Elephant Trek

[happyaussie]

Are there any "real" Elephant trecks on Phuket. When I say real, I mean treks through jungle, over creeks etc. Also where the animals are well cared for and the service professional.

I noticed a lot of comments about tourist attractions like waterfalls etc being covered with litter. This is such a shame and I just hope that someday people will relaize what damage they are doing.

Can anyone suggest other pristine or semi pristine land based activities on the island or nearby.

Appreciate the help.

[stuandchris]

For a short trip [1 to 2 hours] go through Kata towards Rawai, on the left after the viewpoint. Animals trearted well, helpful guides and the cutest two monkeys you will ever meet. Magic.

[Robinsons]

Are there any "real" Elephant trecks on Phuket. When I say real, I mean treks through jungle, over creeks etc. Also where the animals are well cared for and the service professional.

I noticed a lot of comments about tourist attractions like waterfalls etc being covered with litter. This is such a shame and I just hope that someday people will relaize what damage they are doing.

Can anyone suggest other pristine or semi pristine land based activities on the island or nearby.

Appreciate the help.

Look at this Thread about Kok Chang Elephant Camp and Beer Bar:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=189237

Robinsons

[stevenl]

For a short trip [1 to 2 hours] go through Kata towards Rawai, on the left after the viewpoint.

On the left after the bars, but before the viewpoint.

[Byegert]

For a short trip [1 to 2 hours] go through Kata towards Rawai, on the left after the viewpoint. Animals trearted well, helpful guides and the cutest two monkeys you will ever meet. Magic.

Unfortunately I can not agree with this statement. Sometimes I take this way home and about 2 weeks ago I had to watch how one of the guys working there beat the crap out of a younger elefant in order to make him sit. It was happening just across the street where they are building a new construction.

This was clearly not giving a little hit but beating up a chained animal!

I could not believe my eyes because I stopped by many times for a beer after work but since then I swore to myself never to spend a single Baht there again ...

[tw25rw]

I could not believe my eyes because I stopped by many times for a beer after work but since then I swore to myself never to spend a single Baht there again ...

That's quite like how all elephants are trained. They tend to be trained quite severely so they are more obedient as an elephant showing a will of it's own will be to hard to control. Positive reinforcement is not they way it's usually done with elephants.

[Nampeung]

I very much doubt that elephant was from the camp with the monkeys. They have only 4 adult elephants and are wonderful trainers. The camp further down the road on the right is the one where they mistreat the animals and they have babies there.

The one with the monkeys - who are called Chompoo and Charlie - is a great camp and the mahouts totally dedicated to their charge. Watch out for Charlie biting though!!! Say Hi to the elephant Wun Pen from my family and I please if you go

[Robinsons]

I very much doubt that elephant was from the camp with the monkeys. They have only 4 adult elephants and are wonderful trainers. The camp further down the road on the right is the one where they mistreat the animals and they have babies there.

The one with the monkeys - who are called Chompoo and Charlie - is a great camp and the mahouts totally dedicated to their charge. Watch out for Charlie biting though!!! Say Hi to the elephant Wun Pen from my family and I please if you go

Sorry,i think you dont know anything about the Elephant Camp Kok Chang...

Its not Chompoo and Charly!

The correct Names are Lamyai for the Girly Apeman and Charly for the Boy Apeman!!

And also they have an young Elephant at Kok Chang Elephant Camp,and get trained very strong for sure,what must be and is the normal way,specially by young Elephant Bulls!!

I for an very closed Friend from all this Guys there,know from what i speak.

Robinsons

[Galong]

I could not believe my eyes because I stopped by many times for a beer after work but since then I swore to myself never to spend a single Baht there again ...

That's quite like how all elephants are trained. They tend to be trained quite severely so they are more obedient as an elephant showing a will of it's own will be to hard to control. Positive reinforcement is not they way it's usually done with elephants.

Yes, this is called "Crushing" and it's how they train elephants for logging or for tourism. National Geographic did a bit on this, check it out here.

Also, look at this web page. Scroll down to the elephant trekking section.

I'm sure the monkeys mentioned in this thread were taught by beating them too. Unfortunately, that seems to be the most widely used method by Thais.

[Byegert]

I very much doubt that elephant was from the camp with the monkeys. They have only 4 adult elephants and are wonderful trainers. The camp further down the road on the right is the one where they mistreat the animals and they have babies there.

The one with the monkeys - who are called Chompoo and Charlie - is a great camp and the mahouts totally dedicated to their charge. Watch out for Charlie biting though!!! Say Hi to the elephant Wun Pen from my family and I please if you go

Sorry,i think you dont know anything about the Elephant Camp Kok Chang...

Its not Chompoo and Charly!

The correct Names are Lamyai for the Girly Apeman and Charly for the Boy Apeman!!

And also they have an young Elephant at Kok Chang Elephant Camp,and get trained very strong for sure,what must be and is the normal way,specially by young Elephant Bulls!!

I for an very closed Friend from all this Guys there,know from what i speak.

Robinsons

I can confirm that it's this camp for sure and that it was no baby elephant but an about 2/3 grown.

Everybody should know that not over thousands of years domesticated animals (yes, elephants are wild animals!) will have to get their own will broken first in order to work in a forest or carry people around. This is always and everywhere done by using force and inflicting pain!

Once their will is broken they become these cute and obviously peaceful animals which do not have much in common with what they were before - and what they're in my opinion supposed to be.

It's up to everybody's personal decision to support this e.g. by going on elephant treks.

But don't tell lies to yourself (your children and others) how the animals were made to do this.

[phuketrex]

I hate seeing animals suffering for the sake of being "trained' for tourists. The perception many people have of elephants in Thailand is that they are revered and well looked after...not the case :-( I doubt signing a petition will have any effect on what goes on but I suppose it's better than doing nothing.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/stop-the-...lands-elephants

If you watch the video, it's not pleasant viewing>>>

http://en.netlog.com/go/explore/videos/videoid=1664557

The traditional way in Thailand to train elephants is to break their spirit completely and totally so that they are mortally afraid of humans. The way this is done is with the “phaajaan.”

Baby elephants are captured, put into a pen that does not allow them to move side to side, forward, or sit, and then for 3-7 days everyone in the village takes turns breaking the animal using sticks with nails at the end, ropes and hot irons.

I guess the gibbons made to perform for tourists go through similar distress and torture...young ones are taken away from their mothers' and the mother is killed...and even the big lizards that get carried round here for photo opportunities look well p1ssed off too...

...and don't get me started on the eagle and birds of prey chained to that cart at Kata Viewpoint year after year.