Elephants Rides/painting/circuses.

[Georgiegal]

Please don't partake in any of these activities......

Why you might ask???

Because, truthfully, in order for these majestic creatures to perform such acts for our "entertainment", they go through a horrific and torturous training ritual known in Thailand as the Phajaan. The Phajaan torture ritual of domestication and breaking the elephant's spirit that has been practiced for generations in Thailand and many other Southeast Asian countries.

If you really want to see what this is about, have a look on Youtube. Please be aware some scenes are graphic.

My message here to you today is not to gross you out or scare you, but to help inform you of any travel decisions you may make regarding "elephant entertainment".

Elephants were never meant to be domesticated by humans. Anytime an elephant allows a stranger to get on its back, or draws a fabulous painting, or contorts its body in a circus ring........it has gone through the Phajaan. Elephants were meant to roam this earth free as we do.

There are wonderful alternatives to elephant trekking, elephant painting, elephant circuses, feeding begging street elephants.........

Here are some options that will put your conscience at ease and not continue the demand for torturing elephants for our "entertainment".

Elephant Nature Park--45 minutes from Chang Mai, Thailand

http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/2278435540/

A wonderful sanctuary for abused, neglected, and physically disabled Asian elephants. The best alternative to elephant trekking, elephant circus, elephant painting. Here you can volunteer for a week or more. Accommodations are kept clean and are basic. Day trips here are fabulous too--you get to feed , bathe and interact with the elephants and their mahouts. There are no bull hooks, no riding, no painting, no circus acts, or violence used ever on the elephants---just love and compassion. It is truly a magical place that Lek has created.

The Chiang Mai Project

Helping the Vieng Ping Children's Home and Friends of the Asian Elephant

http://www.chiangmaiproject.com/?page_id=18

The Asian Elephant Hospital, run by Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE), is the only hospital of its kind offering care to injured and abused elephants. Founded by Soraida Salwala, the hospital is sponsored by her parent organization Friends of the Asian Elephant, whose purpose is to stop the export of Asian elephants, provide education regarding imminent extinction, and supply medical care to elephants that have been abused or abandoned by their owners, or injured by stepping on landmines while crossing into Burma. Salwala estimates that if action isn’t taken to preserve and care for these majestic, time-honored representatives of Thailand, they will be gone within 50 years.

These fabulous facilities are definitely worth the time and can use your donations/fees much more than the trekking camps, circuses, elephant painting places........and you may just find a true connection with an elephant that WANTS to connect with you--not forced to have a connection with you.

I spent a week at Elephant Nature Park, and it forever changed how I looked at elephants--I am now a strong advocate for those like Lek and Soraida trying to preserve the Asian elephant species for generations to come.

so, now you know the rest of the story.............please be kind and make a more naturalistic choice when it comes to being close to these majestic creatures.....

[Rimmer]

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