Thai animal welfare activist urges phase-out of elephant rides

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Thai animal welfare activist urges phase-out of elephant rides


Walk with elephants – an alternative to elephant rides at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai. Photo courtesy of Elephant Nature Park.

BANGKOK: -- A growing number of European travel agencies have decided to exclude elephant rides from their package tour itineraries based on reports of widespread animal abuse. But one of Thailand’s leading campaigners for elephant welfare argued that such move could do more harm than good to thousands of domesticated elephants already in the tourism industry.

Ms. Sangduen Chailert, an internationally-recognized elephant welfare activist, said instead of a blanket ban on elephant rides in Thailand, travel agencies from western countries that want to promote ethical tourism should engage existing Thai elephant ride operators to persuade them to treat animals under their care humanely.

“Depriving domesticated elephants and their owners of work in the tourism industry all of a sudden could possibly condemn them to even worse predicaments,” said Sangduen in an interview with ScandAsia.

“It is better to keep working elephants and issues related to their welfare visible, in the eye of animal-loving tourists and general public. It is important to keep up pressure on elephant ride operators to clean up their act.”

Sangduen heads a foundation that operates the spacious Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai that provides lifelong care for rescued and abused elephants while relying on those in good health to serve local tourism in an ethical and conservationist manner. No elephants are used to carry visitors or perform tricks like most tourist businesses at the 200-rai park, where more than 30 tuskers, including baby elephants, are cared for.

She stressed that although she personally objects to cruelty to and inhumane treatment of elephants, campaigning for a sudden end to the use of elephants in tourism would be unrealistic.

“Thai and international animal welfare activists, elephant owners and elephant ride operators should put their heads together and come up with a more realistic and sustainable solution that would allow domesticated elephants and the tourism-related businesses to coexist at least in the foreseeable future.”

There are approximately 3,500 domesticated elephants in Thailand. Of this, about 3,000 are engaged in tourism-related businesses while the rest are used in logging, street begging or in circuses.

The Ford Foundation in association with National Geographic named her a Hero of the Planet in 2001. The National Geographic documentary Vanishing Giants, highlighting Sangduen’s work with the Asian elephant, was recognized by the Humane Society of the United States with the Genesis Award in 2003.

In 2005, Time Magazine named Sangduen a Hero of Asia for her work in conservation.
Sangduen said elephants at her Elephant Nature Park are not required to perform any tricks to amuse tourists or to offer them rides. Instead they are simply trained to trust and feel comfortable around visitors who are allowed to feed or walk with them in the jungle or to bathe with them in the stream.

At Elephant Nature Park, animal-loving tourists are entertained simply by the opportunity to observe elephants going about their daily life in family-like herds among natural settings in the sanctuary. Visitors are advised to observe rules, including not to touch or disturb the animals or to take photos with flash on.

“We have already demonstrated that there are alternative methods in training elephants through positive reinforcement that do not require causing physical pain or mental stress to elephants. It is our belief that intelligent animals like elephants should never be forced to perform “unnatural or extreme tricks”, such as walking tightrope, or performing somersaults, or standing on a stool on hind legs or draw pictures.

“It is cruel to compel elephants to do tricks out of fear. We want to train elephants without resorting to cruel treatment the way horses are now humanely trained in some western countries,” she said. “We have already started working with some Karen (a hilltribe ethnic group in northern Thailand) mahouts in humane training and handling of elephants.”

Sangduen said Thailand has the potential to become a global centre for Asian elephant welfare and set the standard in international best practice for humane treatment of this majestic animal.

“We have centuries-old knowhow in elephant training that needs to be adjusted. As a major international tourist destination, we have the personnel and resources required to begin to work on improving elephant welfare. But it will take public pressure at the national and international levels backed by well-thought-out awareness campaigns, to make it happen.”

Source: http://scandasia.com/thai-animal-welfare-activist-urges-phase-out-of-elephant-rides/

-- ScandAsia 2015-02-06

[roo860]

Performing somersault, really?

[Sviss Geez]

Performing somersault, really?

Can you read, really?...

"It is our belief that intelligent animals like elephants..."

...that means not specifically elephants, in case you can't work it out.

[roo860]

I wanna see the somersault!!!

[roo860]

I wanna see the somersault!!!

There ya go!!

[roo860]

Performing somersault, really?

Can you read, really?...

"It is our belief that intelligent animals like elephants..."

...that means not specifically elephants, in case you can't work it out.

No it doesn't

[JeremyBowskill]

There's always the elephant crap coffee market

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Ivory_coffee

[Scully]

Agree with everything she says, well maybe not the somersaults.

[roo860]

Agree with everything she says, well maybe not the somersaults.[/quo

The picture never lies!!!

[toybits]

Should also raise awareness about the cruelty of Horseback riding and other equestrian sports. Mind you - more horses than elephants die from humans riding on them.

[rubl]

Performing somersault, really?

Can you read, really?...

"It is our belief that intelligent animals like elephants..."

...that means not specifically elephants, in case you can't work it out.

... but since the article is ONLY about elephants ... ...

Mind you, an intelligent elephant would know where to stop with tricks and start putting his trainer through hoops.

[harada]

Obviously part of the " we don't want tourists" campaign.

[Pinot]

Elephant rides, begging in the streets, it's time to just stop this shit. Brutal elephant training has been a traditional practice in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. Elephants in Thailand are used to entertain tourists rather than for traditional purposes like logging. It’s our demand for elephant rides and circus acts that leads to more baby elephants getting captured from their mothers, tortured, and sold off to entertain us.

[winstonc]

Elephant rides, begging in the streets, it's time to just stop this shit. Brutal elephant training has been a traditional practice in Southeast Asia for hundreds of years. Elephants in Thailand are used to entertain tourists rather than for traditional purposes like logging. It’s our demand for elephant rides and circus acts that leads to more baby elephants getting captured from their mothers, tortured, and sold off to entertain us.

entertain the uneducated i would say cruelty full stop..

[roo860]

Performing somersault, really?

Can you read, really?...

"It is our belief that intelligent animals like elephants..."

...that means not specifically elephants, in case you can't work it out.

... but since the article is ONLY about elephants ... ...

Mind you, an intelligent elephant would know where to stop with tricks and start putting his trainer through hoops.

Thanks, glad someone understands English!!!:

[chainarong]

I think the measures being taken like walking with this Beautiful animal is a step in the right direction, these animals have been persecuted for centuries and it is time for all of this nonsense at elephant tourist farms to stop , include them most certainly within the tourist market , but treat them how the Tourist would like to be treated , with respect.

[MRH1959]

I have had an Elephant ride and been to four Elephant shows. Although amazed by the capabilities of these magnificent animals, I am also against animal cruelity. Therefore I believe it would be good to publicly see the steps of training and enforce closures of any park administrating any inhumane practice.

If you 'just fine with a penalty payment', many people don't care. Close the park and they will care.

Good on the 'Natural Sanctuary and good on the Elephant walks!

[RKASA]

They used to be my alarm clock - they would drag the chains past my house early in the morning and wake me up. They would move on down to the train yard to load teak logs onto flat cars and I would head for work. Seems they didn't mind much that they were working too - like me no one went with them - they knew what time it was and where to go - the young ones followed the older ones.

Someone must be real proud of having put them out of that well fed job complete with family life. Time to put them out of yet another job.

I guess for an elephant - that is as close to being treated as human as one can get.

[Thian]

And what about baby elephants walking around in Bangkok on the hot tarmac?

Or elephants making paintings all day or playing soccer?

Europeans don't like that cruelty but i bet the Chinese quality tourists love it.

[wabothai]

Difficult issue !!

[circusman]

Circuses in Thailand ? I have lived North and South for 15 years and saw two circuses. Both from out of the country and had no elephants.

You can NOT have a domestic elephant that requires no bull hook (ankus) or the occasional rough handling. They simply will NOT obey without it. They are not gray cows.

Just for the record I am against pachyderms doing tricks for tourists. Elephant rides do no harm to the beast and actually give it needed exercise.

[Eliot Rosewater]

Should also raise awareness about the cruelty of Horseback riding and other equestrian sports. Mind you - more horses than elephants die from humans riding on them.

There will always be people who mistreat animals; unfortunately

But a horse and rider can share a unique bond and deep friendship

[The manic]

Elephants, performing or otherwise are part of Thailand. I used to love to see them in the streets often being used by amulet vendors or sometime with a crazed drunk farang on the back .....then the sentimental do-gooders and NGO types came along and ruined it all-imposing their western views on the Thais.

[hughben]

Elephants, performing or otherwise are part of Thailand. I used to love to see them in the streets often being used by amulet vendors or sometime with a crazed drunk farang on the back .....then the sentimental do-gooders and NGO types came along and ruined it all-imposing their western views on the Thais.

I hope you are trolling.

If not I guess you think foot binding should also still be carried out in traditional Thai Chinese circles too.

[harryfrompattaya]

Walk with Elephant cost more money than riding one A new way to get money from crazy Farang

Remember if no riding elephants their will be less elephant who will feed them

[cumgranosalum]

"“Depriving domesticated elephants and their owners of work in the tourism industry all of a sudden could possibly condemn them to even worse predicaments,” said Sangduen in an interview with ScandAsia." - this argument is rolled out time and again by those who want to keep making money by exploiting elephants.

In fact what is happening in Thailand now is that so much money is being made that "elephant camps" are looking for new stock - e.g. smuggled in from Burma and breeding from captive elephants in Thailand.

This is NOT a good thing.

If tourists stay away they will f=reduce the demand and stop the terrible trade in elephants.

After that the Thai authorities have a duty to look after the remaining captive population properly (after all they bred them for logging - another activity that caused damage to the environment) and not blame their lack of action of foreigners visiting the country.

[geriatrickid]

Obviously part of the " we don't want tourists" campaign.

No it is not. It is an example that there are some intelligent, compassionate Thais who are trying to do the right thing, while taking into consideration the local customs and culture. I think she's right and she has the track record to back her up.

[geriatrickid]

Should also raise awareness about the cruelty of Horseback riding and other equestrian sports. Mind you - more horses than elephants die from humans riding on them.

There will always be people who mistreat animals; unfortunately

But a horse and rider can share a unique bond and deep friendship

Sadly, such a relationship seems to be lacking in Thailand. Ethical farming and responsible animal care, is truly a foreign concept in Thailand.

[roo860]

Its a pity instead of walking with elephants they don't have 'get trampled by elephants' for the tourists that want to get 'up close'!

[EyesWideOpen]

Stopping this nonsense will save the lives of tourists, as every year there

seems to be a story about a elephant crushing a tourist.