If You Love Elephants, Don't Ever Ride Them. Here's Why...
You probably watched it on TV. Some elephants in Thailand are being abused brutally during training.
I watched a video on youtube and I closed it immediately coz it's very barbaric and heart-crushing.
You can find the video here: (WARNING: very graphic, don't watch it if you have a weak heart)
credit: nbcnews.com
I know that every tourists in Thailand want to ride this giant animal. They would take pictures with them so they can post it on Instagram. (yeah including me) But after watching this video, I shut down the idea and promised that I would never ride one in any country. F that!
When they are babies, the cruel trainers take them away from their mothers and put them in a very small cage or hole in the ground where they’re unable to move. They tame them by torturing them and breaking their poor spirit.
They use these poor elephants for tourism, they are forced to work even before their scars are healed. They endure knife stabs, bull hook injuries, mental and stress disorders, starved them, deprived of sleep for many days, plus many more difficulties. They even let the animal walk around the city and beg for food money. So pathetic!
I took this photo when I was in Namuang Safari Park in Samui. The rider was holding a metal hook and he pinched the baby elephant so he could raise his nose like that. I felt disgusted when I saw the rider tap the elephant's head with a hook so he could continue walking and carry his passengers. What if I tap your head with it? Will you like it?!
I'm sorry baby elephants, I want to adopt you but I don't have a big house where you can play and run around. I will just share this save elephant foundation so we can make a difference: http://www.saveelephant.org/
"An elephant never forgets"
------ They will always remember things, events, and such.
Here's a video I took of a lady playing cute with a baby elephant.
"Elephants are majestic creatures and should be left alone in their natural habitat"
source: my old blog
It's sickening to see these creatures being tormented like this @pinaynomad
My question is ; What measures are the authorities in these countries doing to curb this barbaric practices ?
That's the sad part, some of the local officials pretend that they don't know that this is happening. Just like what the vlogger Leblanc said, "it all boils down to money." They're all doing this barbaric practices for money. It's sickening I know. It's part of their tourism. The rescuers are usually foreigners who actually care for those poor animals. I can't help it but get teary-eyed when I watched the link @nzfxtrader sent. It broke my heart.
It's really unfortunate my dear. We just hope some day, things will change for the better.
It is a shame that so many people think Elephants are like toys. The demand for rides is growing every year and more and more of the poor animals have to suffer. The same with begging elephant babies in Bangkok or the "massage elephants" on the beach. And all the stupid shows with painting Elephants etc.
And now more and more of the "Elephant Sanctuaries" are popping up like mushrooms. And I have the feeling that most are only to exploit Elephants :-(
and in your video you can see that the baby Elephant is super stressed. that is why he "dances" not because he has fun. fucked up world :-(
The same goes for all the Tiger Temples.
You're right. They have to be cared and not treat as business. If we can educate the world about the underlying truth about how they trained these gentle giants, they would probably stop going to elephant shows.
Fucked up world indeed.
Yes!
i do from time to time on my facebook wall - airlines should show that on the way into Asia!!
That's very nice of you. We can spam the hell out of airlines' FB page. If not, write it as a comment on their post lol.
ha ha - they will ban us after no time :-)
Thank you for sharing this sis! The reality of tourism and wildlife is indeed heartbreaking. These countries are making money at any cost and have no compassion for animals. The international tourist agencies are faulty and also only think about money. As for tourists they could move in another way, for example by foot or bicycle. Tourists is a plague for animals and nature. Really too sad our human world.
The problem is many non-first world governments are too corrupt or too bound to some other IMF loan to invest in other jobs that can promote self-sufficiency within that nation-state. People have lived there before elephant tourism, and I am sure they can be/are intelligent and capable of finding a different line of work if not in agriculture, then in conserving the biodiversity, building and maintaining infrastructure, etc. Domestic elephants can also be re-released into the wild via conservation programs or animal sanctuaries. It's not impossible as it was done with pandas, whales, and other endangered species. Doesn't anyone deserve a good life?
Well said. People are so selfish nowadays. All they wanna do is make money. They are slowly killing the environment we live in. They don't realize it now, but when it's too late, they will regret it. Karma's a bitch.
When I visited Thailand I had a ride on one of these Majestic animals... to find out what happens to them to get them 'domesticated' is utterly sickening!
Great video here on saving them
Thanks for vlog link. I'm glad they were able to rescue those poor elephants. Their organization, http://www.saveelephant.org/ is really doing their job in protecting those endangered animals. I must admit, the video made me cry a little bit. Thanks for sharing! I will also share it on my other social media accounts. Cheers mate!
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I think its dangerous to link elephants in captivity with abuse all the time. There are sanctuaries in Indonesia where elephants are used to chase illegal loggers and poachers and are well looked after. The animals are not used for tourist rides all the time. The alternative for many of these majestic animals is death by poachers for ivory or by starvation due to the destruction of habitat for our ever expanding world population.
That first image is tough to look at. Poor Ellys :(
Wild-life should remain wild
I totally agree with you. They should be out in the wild, having fun.