Elephant camp responds to viral video of mahout throwing punch at baby elephant

[webfact]

Elephant camp responds to viral video of mahout throwing punch at baby elephant
By Coconuts Bangkok



BANGKOK: -- A Ratchaburi elephant camp has responded to a viral video of a mahout throwing a punch at a baby elephant, forcing her to cower and step back, after the footage sparked international anger.

The video was posted by Australian tourist Charley Costin on Wednesday, who said she was in “absolute disgust” because of the mahout’s action.

We got dropped here after our boat market tour for a quick 5min stop.....THIS IS WHY WE DON'T GO TO ZOO'S Unless it's... Posted by Charley Costin on Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Thanapat Kayar, owner of Chang Puak Camp Damneonsaduak, said yesterday the teen mahout only wanted to ensure the safety of tourists because the elephants usually try to take bananas from their hands.

The teen mahout may have shown a lack of manners to the tourists, he said, but he did not actually land a punch on the elephant, which is how they usually interact.

Full story: http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2016/01/19/elephant-camp-responds-viral-video-mahout-throwing-punch-baby-elephant


-- Coconuts Bangkok 2016-01-19

[Silurian]

Yeah, a show of violence should always be the first response.

I would think there is a better way of training a young elephant than to scare it.

[Prbkk]

Yeah, a show of violence should always be the first response.

I would think there is a better way of training a young elephant than to scare it.

Agree with you but the mahout is doing as he has been trained. The fault is with the owner.

[mrrizzla]

Would like to say the mahout try that when that elephant is fully grown.

[Minnie the Minx]

I'd like to see how he would like being punched in the head. What a tosspot.

Edited January 19, 2016 by Minnie the Minx

[Artisi]

Why is it even in a prison​ "camp" on show for the tourists?. Unless injured, orphaned etc. it should be out in the wild somewhere not in a freak show.

[terryp]

its always good to see the gentle thais that are always being talked about and promoted on the tourism ads?

Hopefully when the little one grows up into a 5 ton adult he will remember this guy

[cooked]

No elephant whisperers in Thailand

[Kerryd]

The excuse from the owners is full of crap. The way the elephant shied away when the kid threw the punch is exactly the reaction you'd expect from an animal that has been hit/hurt like that before. The elephant was fully expecting to be hit and that is why it shied away. No doubt it has been hit like that repeatedly in the past.

[Inyourendo]

Apparently they have a good memory....What's that old elephant saying...keep your enemies close

[huangnon]

I'm not sure if many people have seen how elephants are 'trained' to be servile in the first place?

Not for the sensitive: http://fightforrhinos.com/2013/06/09/the-dark-side-of-thailand-tourism/

[exalll]

No elephant whisperers in Thailand

There certainly are ...

http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/elephant-nature-park/leks-baby-elephant-lullaby-goes-viral/

[Lupatria]

Wish you were here...

https://youtu.be/2meHbTVw6NY

[LannaGuy]

animal cruelty has no place in civilised society and, the truth is, Thailand does not consider animal rights high on any agenda of theirs

[2fishin2]

look how the scum people (not all thais) of this country treat each other....why should we expect them to treat animals any different?

[ikke]

So I bet soon Charley is to be banned from entering the country .....

[lovelomsak]

Years ago when i was tourist here I took a day to ride an elephant. the mahout had a metal bar that had a hook on one side he used to steer the elephant. He would hook the ear of the elephant for some things or hit the elephant with the iron bar in the middle of the forehead for other things. Worked ok except when the elephant stopped to rip up a banana tree and eat it. No matter how hard he hit it with the bar the elephant wasnot going any where till it was finished eating.

[Canuk23]

At least he is hitting it with is fist not with that hook, and the skull of an elephant is super thick so if he makes contact

with is fist he will break a few knuckles before he hurts it, this does not excuse this kind of behavior by any means there

are more human ways to train them, but the general public should not be allowed close to them in the first place.

[Jimbo1964]

Now that's BS if I ever heard it. Safety, sure!

[Pakaty]

I was in Chiang Mai about 13 years ago with my friend who was getting married to a Thai lady. His fiancee and her sister dropped us and the sisters daughter at a monkey show and told us to go to the elephant camp next door after the monkey show and take a ride while the two sisters went to take care some some last minute details for the next day's wedding. When we went to the elephant camp we were the only customers in sight and taken to a very large boarding platform that had benches built into it. Could have held 20 people I think. There was one elephant on the boarding side that was to be our ride. After about a half hour with the three of us sitting up there in the sun waiting to go for our ride we were getting hot and thirsty so my friend offered to go find some cold drinks. So me and the Thai girl who was about 6 years old give or take waited and watched our ride to be elephant swaying to and fro as they do. There seemed to be nobody else around not even staff were to be seen. Then out of the blue some Thai guy comes running up the stairs of the platform and picked up a piece of wood that looked a bit wider than a 2x4 and starts beating the elephant on top its nose. I could see no reason for this and the little girl buried her face in my lap. After the beating which seemed a long time but was probably 30 to 45 seconds the Thai pos disappears again leaving me and the girl to wonder what the heck that was all about. That's when I noticed the elephant's nose was covered in pink splotches. I'm guessing from previous beatings. When my friend returned with drinks I told him what happened and that I was not going to ride that poor beast or with those people. He agreed and as it had been almost an hour of waiting we started leaving. By the time we got to the entrance they saw us and came running out saying where you go and its okay we can go now (for the ride). My friend just made gestures of beating someone with a bat and asks why you beat elephant asking several times but we just got blank stares in return and we left. I still have not taken an elephant ride in Thailand and probably won't.

[wolfjob]

Yeah, a show of violence should always be the first response.

I would think there is a better way of training a young elephant than to scare it.

Agree with you but the mahout is doing as he has been trained. The fault is with the owner.

Give the Elephant a few years and the Mahout will find out it is not all forgotten. Hope the Eli

will punch back harder.

[djlest]

One thing im very impressed about when i visit my inlaws is the behavior of their dogs, they will never take food or step on the mats when Thais are eating.. They will never bite any 2 or 3 year olds that tug at their ears or tails, and they are BIG dogs and about 5 of them. They are the most disciplined creatures ive seen.

However, to get them like this ive watched the younger ones have a very vigorous upbringing. If they step on the mat or do something wrong, they get kicked hard! Usually they learn fast and know who their bosses are. And the rest of life is problem free...

Lets not forget animals dont understand english, they understand REWARD = FOOD and WRONG = PAIN
Im not saying its right to punch or kick animals, but it works...

[SOTIRIOS]

...clear which is the wild species here....

...and the pathetic explanation/excuse makes it even more clear...

...and yes...elephants never forget......

[moon47]

This is an over reaction to a very common show of affection in Thailand especially in the rural parts of the country.

I know it sounds weird from a foreign perspective, but older people always raise a hand to younger ones. The older one does not really intend to carry through with the threat though. It is allot like when grandma said do you want me to go get the switch (stick) and give you a one two. Grandma never intends to get out the stick at all but uses the threat to get the attention of the wrong doing little ones.

I often do it to my little nephews in law. There is no real violence EVER intended or expected by either party.

My (Thai) nephews know it is only in jest and just means "hay watch it little one, mind your manners".

I know it looks bad coming from an outsiders point of view but he really was only playing with the elephant and was absolutely no ill intent. Just look at the smile on his face he did not mean anything and was just playing. He actually looks a little confused as you keep asking him why he did it... =]

Of course this is just my point of view take it as you wish. From a 10+ year expat with family in the country.

R

[Artisi]

One thing im very impressed about when i visit my inlaws is the behavior of their dogs, they will never take food or step on the mats when Thais are eating.. They will never bite any 2 or 3 year olds that tug at their ears or tails, and they are BIG dogs and about 5 of them. They are the most disciplined creatures ive seen.

However, to get them like this ive watched the younger ones have a very vigorous upbringing. If they step on the mat or do something wrong, they get kicked hard! Usually they learn fast and know who their bosses are. And the rest of life is problem free...

Lets not forget animals dont understand english, they understand REWARD = FOOD and WRONG = PAIN

Im not saying its right to punch or kick animals, but it works...

Yes it works, that's until the day they have had enough and your kid or similar gets savaged, maimed or even killed - - wonder why that happens??????.....

[Ulic]

I don't believe in elephant parks, zoos or dolphin/whale shows, but at least this young

mahout was not using the metal tipped spike and hook they usually use to inflict pain

and control elephants.

[jak2002003]

One thing im very impressed about when i visit my inlaws is the behavior of their dogs, they will never take food or step on the mats when Thais are eating.. They will never bite any 2 or 3 year olds that tug at their ears or tails, and they are BIG dogs and about 5 of them. They are the most disciplined creatures ive seen.

However, to get them like this ive watched the younger ones have a very vigorous upbringing. If they step on the mat or do something wrong, they get kicked hard! Usually they learn fast and know who their bosses are. And the rest of life is problem free...

Lets not forget animals dont understand english, they understand REWARD = FOOD and WRONG = PAIN

Im not saying its right to punch or kick animals, but it works...

Hitting or otherwise abusing animals to train them is cruel and there are no excuse for it.

I have 2 dogs here in Thailand and have never hit them or scared them... they are very well behaved and socialises.. never go on the furniture, never chew anything, are always friendly to people young and old, good with other dogs, and never kill or chase my chickens.

Animals do understand commands you teach them.

Using force, pain or fear to train an animals is the lazy way.. and damages the bond between the animal and people.

[englishoak]

What do people expect ?

Shame on people for going to these places for their amusement....

Reason these animals get treated so bad is because you the public fund the owners business interests to continue doing it.

Look in the mirror next time you see something like this at a zoo etc.... its you who paid entrance to see and encourages it.

Might as well go up and punch the animal yourself.

People know all about zoos,you either care and go nowhere near them or your part of the problem if you do.

[Sydebolle]

I saw the clip on Facebook, the reference to safety is big bul.....t.
Guess why the baby elephant backed up and bowed immediately - assume it got hit hard (not just slapped) over and over before.

The punch was not a "safety" matter but the young ignorant mahout wanted the baby to knee in front of the person giving the baby elephant the (most likely completely overpriced) bananas.

Fire that <deleted> of a "mahout" and vote with your feet. I am not a do-gooder but it is frightening to see all those jailed "tamed" animals, be it tigers, elephants or any other here in Thailand - but we'll learn only once it is too late. How sad!

[JAG]

Apparently they have a good memory....What's that old elephant saying...keep your enemies close