Thailand is a dream destination for many of us. That's because the country is home to breathtaking beaches, fantastic cuisine, and exotic wildlife. When tourists from all around the world travel to this Asian country, they usually partake in zip-lining, exploring local food as well as riding elephants. Although the last activity may sound neat, it’s, in fact, a nightmare for the pachyderms.
To “tame” an elephant, the poor mammals have their spirit “broken” at a young age. They are separated from their mother, beaten and terrorized, and then taught to obey commands to become ready for a life in the tourism industry. Dr. Jan Schmidt-Burbach, the senior wildlife and veterinary adviser at World Animal Protection explained:
“Tourists may think activities like riding an elephant do no harm. But the brutal truth is that breaking these animals’ spirits to the point that they allow humans to interact with them involves cruelty at every turn.”
According to a report by the group World Animal Protection, in 2010, more than half of the 1,688 captive mammals across Thailand, lived in “terrible” conditions, as they were bound by “extreme” restraints. As the Dodo reports:
“They were unable to socialize with other elephants. They did not receive veterinary care. And for those who suggest that the treks instill any kind of conservation ethos, World Animal Protection found only 6 percent of the venues promoted educational components with the treks.”
The Ecologist
In the video here, men in Thailand are beating a wild-caught baby elephant in a cage over the span of several days. They intend to make the baby elephant “break” and obey commands, so they make money. Also, in the video below, a half-blind female elephant in South Thailand undergoes terrible abuse by her captors.
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand, shared the undercover footage, which focuses on the female elephant with limited vision. Despite being half-blind, the elephant is forced to carry loads of tourists on her back. As One Green Planet reports, unless she obeys the orders she is given during the work day, she's whipped and beaten in her face, trunk, head, and feet. This lasts for hours. Afterwards, they chain her up to prevent her from escaping.
Watch the video below:
One doesn't need to be an animal rights activist to realize that such behavior is abhorrent. Imagine if another species made their presence known on Earth and treated us humans in such a manner! Our population would (hopefully) fight back.
The video above might be hard to watch, but it is imperative to share, as that degree of abuse takes place all over the world, especially in Asian countries where elephants play a significant role in the tourism industry.
If you want to learn more on how you can prevent that type of abuse and protect Thailand’s wild animals, visit the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand Facebook page. Also, you can raise awareness by sharing this news and commenting below!
References: The Mind Unleashed, One Green Planet
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ReplyDeleteSickening.
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