BOHEMIAN ELEPHANT TELLS YOU WHY NEVER TO RIDE ELEPHANTS

Sep 5, 2016
3 min read

Tourism involves new cultural experiences, shopping and food tasting, and fun-filled activities. Some of these seemingly harmless pursuits often have a darker side to them like animal tourism – elephant tourism to be precise.

Kids and adults enjoy riding these magnificent creatures, watch them paint or pose for photographs. Many of these attractions are promoted as cruelty-free when the reality is far different. Unsuspecting tourists believe the false stories and inadvertently allow harsh practices to flourish.

An eye-opener visit

I realised this when I went on an 8-week family trip (with my husband and daughter) to Thailand in 2015. We did all the touristy things expected in a beautiful country like Thailand, but a visit to Chiang Mai changed my life forever. As we explored the beautiful temples and the river market, I come across a sight that brought tears to my eyes.

A magnificent elephant with a vacant expression and covered in its own faeces was standing in a large metal cage. Worse still, it was chained to the iron bars and had difficulty moving around.

Who were those soulless individuals who had subjected the gentle creature to such physical and emotional abuse?

My questions were answered at The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, where my family spent a few days volunteering and hanging out with rescued elephants. Lek, who runs the sanctuary, and our guide, Sunshine, told us heart-rending stories of abuse and slavery. Each of the 61 rescued elephants, currently residing there, have experienced this brutality on the streets of Thailand. One elephant had a foot blown off by a landmine, while a female elephant was severely beaten on the face that left her blind.

The DARK side of Elephant Tourism

Wild elephants are kidnapped and tortured in an attempt to subjugate them. Cultural and religious beliefs in Asia and Africa make it difficult to highlight their suffering or get people to change old habits.

Babies born in captivity are domesticated in a process that involves spirit breaking. They are separated from their mothers, confined to a dark and narrow cage, denied food, water and sleep, and beaten mercilessly. A mahout or keeper will then shower love on the poor animal and give it nourishment. The broken elephant soon submits to this saviour – new human master.

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=when+they+trap+a+baby+elephant+&&view=detail&mid=E5EBC00C42662DB422DAE5EBC00C42662DB422DA&FORM=VRDGAR

While some keepers care for their animals, they force elephants to work for food. Most of them are treated badly, hurt and wounded, denied medical care, and finally cast off when they become unfit for work.

They are sold to trekking camps where they may face further abuse. Even camps that treat elephants with care use the spirit breaking method to domesticate the gentle behemoth.

THINGS are changing for the better

Yes! Historically, elephants were used for heavy manual labour, transport, entertainment, religious rituals, and even as war machines. Our ancestors had limited choices and settled for less humane options. But we don’t have to repeat their mistakes.

The elephants rescued from logging and entertainment industry, trekking camps, and circuses find a safe haven at the sanctuary. As we explored the park, I saw elephants in their natural habitat, forming herds, bathing in the river, and playing with each other. The way it should be.

https://www.facebook.com/suzie.bajerski.3/videos/1665356243693855/?l=8072704669694442494

The Elephant Nature Park and other such sanctuaries do an amazing job of caring for neglected animals and healing their emotional scars with love and kindness. Although it costs over hundreds of thousands of pounds annually to maintain the park, and rescue elephants (it can be up to 50000 euros per animal), Lek and her team have made rehabilitating elephants their life’s mission.

TAKE the PLEDGE

Bohemian Elephant is an ethical fashion company that cares about the environment, community, and supports such humane missions.

Elephants are not meant for riding. Their delicate spines can’t handle the extra load of humans or riding chairs. Imagine being forced to carry and ferry people on your back, day in and day out. These gentle giants are meant to live in the wild and enjoy a carefree life.

My company aims to spread awareness and stop others from indulging in these “fun” pursuits.

You and I can do this together.

Avoid any entertainment activity that involve elephants or other animals.