Fatigued elephant collapses on street in Thailand (Video)

[rethaier]

Although I am not a violent person, anyone who hurts an elephant deservers to be hated. It is a Thai tradition to protect the elephants.

My observations tell me it is a Thai tradition to exploit the elephants.

[konying]

The most sickening thought that out of all that kind hearted , smiling, Buddhist , loving people not even a single one brought over water to pour over the baby elephant or offer any kind of help.

Thainess at its best.

Just stupid faces with silly grins on it

[Just1Voice]

Thailand should change their "National Symbol" from Elephant to Hyena. Much more appropriate.

[rethaier]

The most sickening thought that out of all that kind hearted , smiling, Buddhist , loving people not even a single one brought over water to pour over the baby elephant or offer any kind of help.

Thainess at its best.

Just stupid faces with silly grins on it

You don't need to be a nice person when you can purchase merit.

[ratcatcher]

Another "Crackdown" after the horse has left the barn.

The Police didn't notice an elephant walking the streets of Bangkok?

Nothing ever get's a "crackdown" until there is a video of it...

That's right the police didn't notice an elephant walking the streets of Bangkok, because it was walking in Krathum Baen market in Samut Sakhon province west of Bangkok.

Nothing to do with Bangkok's police.

Anyway, it's good to see you found the news of a crackdown sufficiently amusing to 'crack you up'

[AlphMichaels]

I hope this story going viral results in this young pachyderm's "repatriation" to an area more conducive to a quality life deserved.

I read earlier this year that there are about 3,000 domesticated elephants in LoS..., the largest percentage used for "rides". I've had the chance to do this at least 10 times now and "pass" choosing instead to get close, feed them a snack, and enjoy a moment.

Magnificent animals.

[annabel]

Although I am not a violent person, anyone who hurts an elephant deservers to be hated. It is a Thai tradition to protect the elephants.

Apparantly not.

And not only the owner of the elephant, but the shop owner where the elephant collapsed. Isn't it illegal to bring elephants into Bangkok? Where are the police?

The Elephant Owner.... the Shop Owner are despicable no doubt! What about all the people walking by who did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help or scold these 2 B..*&^'s. Could someone have not at least tried to help here...??? Give the poor thing some food / water whatever... Pathetic !

[Upset]

Ah! Thainess at its best.

[ratcatcher]

Although I am not a violent person, anyone who hurts an elephant deservers to be hated. It is a Thai tradition to protect the elephants.

Apparantly not.

And not only the owner of the elephant, but the shop owner where the elephant collapsed. Isn't it illegal to bring elephants into Bangkok? Where are the police?

The Elephant Owner.... the Shop Owner are despicable no doubt! What about all the people walking by who did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to help or scold these 2 B..*&^'s. Could someone have not at least tried to help here...??? Give the poor thing some food / water whatever... Pathetic !

It was a 'baby ' elephant, quite young and you can imagine where they park it for the night, probably in some dark smelly warehouse or tethered in a deserted piece of land behind a factory where no one can see it.

Despicable characters.

[placebo365]

Almost 30,000 people have signed this petition to end Elephant abuse in Thailand. Please add your signature and make yourself aware of the issues the Elephants face here. Only when public opinion shouts loud enough against this, will anything change. Thank you.

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/against-elephant-abuse-in-thailand/

[Stokakrishna]

Thais love elephants?? yes?? lol

it used to be on their national flag, and used to be respected by all Thais. Royal animal.

not anymore. abuse, mistreating, tirturing, killing, hunting, selling.

all in Thailand

all by Thais

[Bkungbank]

Recent China government promote to protect sharks with motto ' When buying stop, the killing too ' it so effective.

The mahout selling sugar cane for 20 Baht small bag is not feeding the elephant but the elephant is feeding them .

When we know we should not buy from them then the elephant will live a happy live in forest not on the street.

So next time please help to stop buying from these people. Thank you for helping !

[garrya]

Although I am not a violent person, anyone who hurts an elephant deservers to be hated. It is a Thai tradition to protect the elephants.

Excuse me? Thai tradition to protect elephants?? And when was this a tradition?? I can only see the exact opposite which is so conspicuous.

[Gandtee]

I have a suspicion that this poor creature was trained to lay down to attract sympathy. It certainly looks as though it didn't work. Most people simply ignored it. Almost like laws here in Thailand. They are ignored. That is why we still see elephants paraded around the streets. Very sad.

[thaiguzzi]

Again, far too young to have been taken away from it's mother. I have been known to throw rant and rave tantrums at "mahouts" with too young elephants in a commercial setting in an urban enviroment.

[Jonmarleesco]

And as the mahout was - is - breaking the law, and presumably his mug is on the video/photos, the police have no excuse for not acting, taking the animal protection people with them and taking the animal away from him.

Of course, if the mahout was told to bugger off instead of being given money, it would eventually sink in.

[BrooklynNY]

I was kind of crying inside when I saw the picture of the baby elephant passed out like that. That baby elephant still needs mother milk and needs to rest. I do not understand the logic of Thai people in majority that they did not bother to get water for the baby elephant and reported to the animal welfare. It is sad to see an animal being pushed to work without adequate food and water and no rest. Thailand is not a good place for any animals either born wild or domestic.

[shawndoc]

The fact that the elephant got up so quickly after the mahout signaled him up makes me think there's a good possibility the "collapsed" baby was trained to collapse in areas to get attention/sympathy so the mahout could gather more money.

[iReason]

Another "Crackdown" after the horse has left the barn.

The Police didn't notice an elephant walking the streets of Bangkok?

Nothing ever get's a "crackdown" until there is a video of it...

That's right the police didn't notice an elephant walking the streets of Bangkok, because it was walking in Krathum Baen market in Samut Sakhon province west of Bangkok.

Nothing to do with Bangkok's police.

Anyway, it's good to see you found the news of a crackdown sufficiently amusing to 'crack you up'

Splitting hairs aren't we?

Suffice to say, the poor beast has more brains than the savages walking around it...

[chickenslegs]

I suspect that we will soon be informed that the mahout is Burmese or Cambodian. I can't believe that a Thai would mistreat an elephant.

[Basil B]

I would not give any money to the mahout, is sugar cane a good diet for elephants? is there any charity that raises money for feed for elephants? maybe time Thailand got itself an animal welfare group to stop this sort of thing like the RSPCA/SPCA/Animal Humane Society.

[F4UCorsair]

Whilst I find this story abhorrent, I think I may go along with a previous poster who suggested that it may be trained to lie down which seems to onlookers like exhaustion, resulting in them giving money to buy food, most of which may go down the mahout's neck in the form of booze, or cigarette smoke.

Not for a second am I supporting any mistreatment, but just think about what is required to exhaust any animal, including yourself, to the point of not being able to stand, and it's seldom seen.

As I said in an earlier post, I almost throttled a mahout at a 'training camp' north of Chiang Mai for belting elephants on the feet with his hook, and I know I would have intervened here, but the video may not tell the full story.

Whatever the real story is, what a poor little fella, committed to walking on bitumen roads, way too hard for elephant pads, begging for food, and a long life doing the same. It is a bloody disgrace.

Asians, generally, are not respecters of animals.

[Toknarok]

I thought that there was some sort of fund or 'pension' that provided for the upkeep of elephants. The government or it may have been Royal Patronage pays this sum monthly to the animal's owner. Trouble is, I believe, the sum is said to be insufficient to provide 100% for the beast. It costs an awful lot of money to keep an elephant, that is why the owners state that the are forced to parade these animals in such a manner in order to obtain the extra funds needed to feed their elephants. An increase in this fund could perhaps stop this practice, as well as implementation of the law.

[6thST]

What was this poor Elephant doing in a market in Bangkok? I thought it was illegal...I hope this Elephant is taken away from this so called Manhot,,,SLIME BALL

[tango]

To those suggesting the elephant(s) be transferred to a national park for safety; there's no safety from poachers and the like in Thai so-called 'protected' areas - to wit, the recent elephant slaughters in one such park followed by more soon after in the same park, with the agency officials feigning concern.

One reads time and again of trucks transporting elephants and other animals overturning; 'pedal to the metal' mentals should not be transporting any animals, least of all the Thai national symbol, without a controlled vehicle escort.

The gods weep that such stately animals are left without oversight in the care of such heartless groups.

[Dumu Ali]

Buddha failed when it comes to providing justice to elephants, most religions disapprove of animal slavery and I wonder if Thai buddhism allows elephanploitation, I cried when I saw this video and I am praying with all my might that this demonic treatment of elephanta stops