Elephant camps petition government complaint centre

 

Owners of all elephant camps, mahouts and their staff from across the country met yesterday in Ayutthaya province to voice their troubles after a special task force of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation have seized and impounded their animals for checks.

 

They claimed that such action by the authorities not only harm their tourism business, but also have great impact on their animals which are in the custody of the authorities with no knowledge of proper care of the animals.

 

They agreed to petition the government’s Damrongtham Complaint Centre to stop the action of the task force immediately.

 

Mr Laithonglien Meephan, owner of the Ayutthaya’s Wangchang Lae Phaniat, said all elephant camp owners, mahouts and camp employees were in trouble after the task force, Phraya Sua, seized, impounded, and kept their elephants in custody for checks.

 

Such action by the task force has not only affected the tourism business, but also hurt the mental health of elephants in the custody of authorities.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/elephant-camps-petition-government-complaint-centre/

 

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2016-12-18

 

Possible illegal wildlife trading trying to hide behind tourism and mental health of animals?

 

I thought I have heard such excuses not too long ago in Kanchanaburi...

Many Western tour groups are taking elephant rides off their itineraries.  And for good reasons.  It encourages poaching, improper breeding and interestingly enough, riding on an elephant is physically harmful to the beast.  I guess their backs are not that strong.  Not to mention they are wild beasts and tourists do get hurt and killed.

 

https://www.worldnomads.com/explore/responsible-travel/thailand/81053/why-elephant-riding-should-be-removed-from-your-bucket-list

 

Quote

 

Why Elephant Riding Should Be Removed from Your List

There is an air of romance to riding an elephant. But, there are so many reasons why it should be removed from your bucket list.

 

http://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/why-not-ride-elephants/

 

http://www.traveldailymedia.com/232371/study-slams-cruel-animal-tourist-attractions/

 

Quote

 

Study slams “cruel” animal tourist attractions

University of Oxford and World Animal Protection assert that three quarters of wildlife attractions are cruel

 

 

 

 

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/623605-thai-wife-of-german-man-killed-by-crazed-elephant-in-rayong/

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Thai Wife Of German Man Killed By Crazed Elephant In Rayong

 

 

Why don't the owners, mahouts and their staff say outright. Such actions by the govt is detrimental to their income...

Some of the treatment that's handed out to the elephant from owners  I'd say the owners had the mental health problem, being looked after by the authorities the elephant probably thinks Xmas has arrived early,  anyway they should all be in freedom with no owners, the state should provide certain area's and look after then , this could be easy done financially, just axe hundred and twenty thousand off the yearly call up and sink the subs , you could have a big tourist promo in China,  erect multitudes of viewing platforms for the thousands of quality tourists,  for photo shoots and charge 10 Baht for Thai's and Asians , Farangs 1500 baht...........................................

2 minutes ago, chainarong said:

Some of the treatment that's handed out to the elephant from owners  I'd say the owners had the mental health problem, being looked after by the authorities the elephant probably thinks Xmas has arrived early,  anyway they should all be in freedom with no owners, the state should provide certain area's and look after then , this could be easy done financially, just axe hundred and twenty thousand off the yearly call up and sink the subs , you could have a big tourist promo in China,  erect multitudes of viewing platforms for the thousands of quality tourists,  for photo shoots and charge 10 Baht for Thai's and Asians , Farangs 1500 baht...........................................

Actually, not a bad idea.  Private wildlife parks in Africa charge big money to see these beasts in the "wild".  They are protected, can roam relatively freely, and are cared for.  Not a bad way to go.  But they are not ridden nor used to throw darts and paint pictures.

7 hours ago, craigt3365 said:

Actually, not a bad idea.  Private wildlife parks in Africa charge big money to see these beasts in the "wild".  They are protected, can roam relatively freely, and are cared for.  Not a bad way to go.  But they are not ridden nor used to throw darts and paint pictures.

The parks there are bigger than Thailand. I don't know if they have enough room here for many but I like the Idea. Its hard to say how happy or unhappy these animals are. I think they belong in the wild but we keep taking the wild away don't we. 

17 hours ago, Grubster said:

The parks there are bigger than Thailand. I don't know if they have enough room here for many but I like the Idea. Its hard to say how happy or unhappy these animals are. I think they belong in the wild but we keep taking the wild away don't we. 

To give credit where credit is due Grubster there are some camps around now that only do photo stops, not enough though,  with the amount of space required I'd say the animals would need to be protected and looked after by the state, In their natural environment they wander far and wide hey and you notice I mentioned the word protected.

3 minutes ago, chainarong said:

To give credit where credit is due Grubster there are some camps around now that only do photo stops, not enough though,  with the amount of space required I'd say the animals would need to be protected and looked after by the state, In their natural environment they wander far and wide hey and you notice I mentioned the word protected.

I think they should sterilize them also as there numbers are much to high here already. Bringing captive baby elephants into this human world just seems cruel to me.