Asian elephants are native to Thailand, however far too lots of them are trapped in captivity. Right here’s what World Animal Safety Thailand need you to know earlier than you go to.
Elephant experiences are a well-liked vacationer exercise for travellers visiting Thailand. Let’s have a look at what these experiences imply for the captive animals concerned and what we are able to do to enhance their well-being.
What you have to find out about Thailand elephants
Asian elephants are native to Thailand, however far too lots of them are trapped in captivity. World Animal Safety Thailand strives to finish the exploitation of captive elephants within the tourism trade.
Do elephants roam free in Thailand?
Thailand is residence to roughly 15% of the 52,000 Asian elephants presently dwelling within the wild. Asian elephants are an endangered species, and between 3100 and 3600 might be present in 69 protected areas in Thailand.
What number of captive elephants are there in Thailand?
Wild elephants in Thailand are outnumbered by these saved in captivity.
Round 2798 captive elephants stay in tourism venues throughout the nation. To place this in context, almost 75% of captive elephants are used for vacationer leisure in Asia.
Are elephants handled effectively in Thailand?
Sadly, no.
We assessed 3837 elephants in 357 venues throughout Asia and discovered that 63% had been dwelling in severely insufficient situations. When not performing, they had been restrained by brief chains in noisy, soiled situations, had poor diets, and obtained very restricted medical care.
Coaching elephants to carry out tips and actions for vacationers is each unnatural and dangerous. ‘Trainers’ use merciless, punishment-based coaching, together with hitting them with sticks or sharp metallic objects.
Elephants are sometimes saved in isolation. Elephants are very social, so separating younger elephants from their moms causes extreme trauma, particularly when they’re then restrained with chains to exhaust them whereas they turn out to be used to being remoted. This will result in signs of PTSD.
Analysis from our Elephants not Commodities Report
Why is elephant leisure tourism in Thailand an issue?
Elephants used for tourism in Thailand fuels the cruelty we’ve simply talked about. Corporations practice elephants to fulfil the demand for elephant experiences and shut encounters with these wild animals.
Elephant tourism additionally makes elephants a precious commodity. Elephant breeders can cost massive sums for every calf. It is a type of wildlife farming, the place these wild animals are seen solely by way of revenue with no thought for his or her wellbeing.
Though the welfare of those elephants is our main concern, captive elephant experiences additionally pose a major hazard to people. Extra individuals are killed or severely injured by captive elephants than every other captive wild animal.
At present, one particular person is killed on common for every male elephant being held in captivity. In addition to these direct killings, shut contact with captive elephants can move harmful ailments similar to tuberculosis to vacationers and handlers.
The place to see elephants in Thailand
Visiting captive elephant experiences is clearly not an moral or accountable act. Fortunately, it’s attainable to see elephants in Thailand in a humane, sustainable setting that prioritises their wellbeing.
The place attainable, we all the time advocate seeing wild animals within the wild, the place they’re free to roam and act in pure methods. If not, you may nonetheless discover elephant sanctuaries that put the elephants’ wants first and provides them the liberty to be elephants.
We wish to enable you to establish genuinely accountable elephant venues. Listed here are some issues to keep away from, and what to search for.
@worldanimalprotection Should you love elephants, ensure you see them within the wild or at real sanctuaries that deal with them with compassion and respect. #elephants #wildlife#gooddays #ResponsibleTravel #EndWildlifeFarming ♬ authentic sound – World Animal Safety 🌎
Elephant Tourism Dos and Do not
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Don’t: Assume that venues with ‘sanctuary’ within the identify are accountable
Many exploitative venues will describe themselves as sanctuaries, rescue centres or different constructive phrases.
Don’t: Contact elephants
Elephants received’t naturally transfer shut sufficient to people to be touched. Should you’re allowed to the touch an elephant, it signifies that the animal has skilled brutal coaching strategies for the amusement of vacationers.
Don’t: Play with child elephants
Child elephants could be a enormous draw for vacationers, being each majestic and extremely cute. Nonetheless, being separated from their mom is extremely traumatic for younger elephants.
No accountable elephant venue will interact in captive breeding, preserve infants away from their mom, or permit company to the touch infants.
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Do: Take pleasure in pure behaviour
Wild animals must be free to behave naturally. Wild elephants spend their time strolling lengthy distances, consuming, and socialising with different elephants. Search for venues that give them the house and freedom to do that.
Do: Prioritise security
Elephants are massive wild animals and might be harmful. Accountable venues preserve loads of distance between elephants and guests. Particularly, elephant hooks ought to solely ever be utilized in excessive circumstances.
Pearl from the Elephant Valley Undertaking was a 2023 Finalist for our Wild Animal Distinctive Persona award
What’s the most humane elephant sanctuary in Thailand?
That will help you determine the place you may respect elephants in Thailand, we’ve compiled a listing of probably the most accountable elephant sanctuaries we’ve present in our in depth analysis.
Learn how to cease elephant abuse in Thailand
Elephant abuse is widespread in Thailand, however it isn’t inevitable. Be part of us in stopping the exploitation of captive elephants. Collectively, we are able to make an actual distinction to those animals.
World Animal Safety Thailand is working to cut back the variety of captive elephants utilized in industrial tourism. Among the finest methods to do that is to lower the demand for elephants as leisure.
They’re additionally striving to enhance situations for the elephants presently dwelling in captivity and their caretakers. We will’t undo the merciless coaching they’ve skilled, however we can provide them environments that fulfil their present wants and keep away from traumatising them additional.
Some venues are already making these modifications. ChangChill transitioned from elephant rides and experiences to observation-only, elephant pleasant tourism in 2019 and is flourishing. Following Giants took the identical, elephant-first path.
Help our work to guard Thailand’s elephants
Captive elephants in Thailand are struggling, compelled to stay in unnatural and traumatic situations. The elephant venues transferring in direction of elephant pleasant, accountable tourism show that it would not must be this fashion.
Be part of us in defending Asian elephants in captivity.