Danish tour operator halts 11 out of 17 elephant tours

[srchino]

elephant polo

How it is

This just made my stomach churn. As someone who hosts a lot of friends from overseas here in LOS, elephant rides are one thing I will definitely be educating them on and discouraging.

To those Thais in the business of doing this to the elephants, <deleted>.

[junk1e]

Excellent news!!!

[spidermike007]

That's a good start. Get rid of this outlandish, ancient practice, and take pride in the last elephants left - give them protection and freedom.

Riding Elephants are terrible I agree now lets close down the sex tourist and their bars

You would be better off going back to your home country and doing work for your favorite church.

[wilcopops]

That's a good start. Get rid of this outlandish, ancient practice, and take pride in the last elephants left - give them protection and freedom.

Riding Elephants are terrible I agree now lets close down the sex tourist and their bars

It isn't realistic to see these problems as linked or to suggest that seeking solutions for one issue prevents tackling another at the same time.

[wilcopops]

What next, stop people from riding horses? Cruelty to animal is one thing, using animals with respect is another. We also kill and eat animals but this to can be done in a way that lessons cruelty. Groups like Peta believe it is cruel to even own a pet ... some things just go to far. We are the top of the food chain and generally we strive to be less savage to animals than they are to each other. If we get to the point of true equality with animals and fish as some people want and as many are pushing for but don't even realize this is where they are headed by constantly upping what is fair to animals then once this is accomplished we'll move to equality with plant life and demand all our food come from synthetic food and if we can't cure a disease without animal testing then we'll just have to accept that disease will not be cured.

Sorry but IMO there is nothing wrong with riding an elephant as long as the animal is properly cared for which means it is at much less risk of death, disease and harm than in the wild.

you clearly aren't aware of the difference between riding horses and elephants.

Firstly the geometry of a horses back allows it to carry loads (large loads) quite safely, this is not the case for elephants...... furthermore horses are a domesticated species that have been bred for specific purposes - Elephants are NOT domesticated they are merely "broken" not submission and then used for whatever purposes they can be forced into.

.....you also are ill-informed on Peta's "pet policy"...

"Contrary to myth, PETA does not want to confiscate animals who are well cared for and “set them free.” What we want is for the population of dogs and cats to be reduced through spaying and neutering and for people to adopt animals (preferably two so that they can keep each other company when their human companions aren’t home) from pounds or animal shelters—never from pet shops or breeders—thereby reducing suffering in the world.

Read more: http://www.peta.org/about-peta/why-peta/pets/#ixzz3LwHXZrEe

Edited December 15, 2014 by wilcopops

[hashmodha]

This is by far the most significant step by Apollo,I have worked with them,Bravo, Now if TUI,THOMAS COOK,then all the other Tour Operators must follow and let these Elephants live the lives they rightfully deserve,and whilst this is going on How about letting closing all the Dolphins Parks and letting them play in the Oceans where they belong too!Please start a save the Dolphins campaign!

[wilcopops]

The trade in elephants demonstrates the basic attitude and ignorance of wildlife, conservation and ecology in Thailand. Animals - elephants in this case - are seen as a commodity - no more than a Toyota pickup - and are there for the benefit of our wallets.

With this as the prevalent attitude both in terms of those involved with animals and the authorities it is difficult to get anything positive done in Thailand

(see the recent response by the Thai govt to the CITES ruling on the ivory trade). It leads to the kind of abuse that supplies both the tourist and the ivory trades.

It is of course US as foreigners that pay out the money that supports the abuse of elephants both for the ivory trade and the tourist industry.

[Johnny S]

That's a good start. Get rid of this outlandish, ancient practice, and take pride in the last elephants left - give them protection and freedom.

Riding Elephants are terrible I agree now lets close down the sex tourist and their bars

easy now ... some rides are okay, the girls are in it freely but the elephants didnt choose to be riden on