The disturbing truth about about elephant tourism Clephart tourism In Thailand: A cruel industry? "Tourism needs to only he ahont enjoyment, and requires no further justification" Tretas, & Irritant. Noua Do you agree with this? Many people bouk bolidays with their enjoyment and excitement overriding their beliefs and masking the ethical issues surrounding them, and you could he one of them. Did you know riding an elephant while you are on holidays can be cruel and lead to an elephants death? Elephants are incredible animals and like me, matry people fantasize about riding these creatures. The experience of sitting on top of these amazing 4-ton, 9-foot beasts whilst tumbling through deep forests and rivers are on almost everyone's bucket lists. The appeal for elephant interaction is clear; they are majestic, social and intelligent animals. But did you know in order to ride them. they are mistreated, often beaten and deprived of sleep and food? This is the extent of whit elephants go too in order to be controlled by their trainers and to be compliant. Not only do these elephants get harshly trained and held by chaining and shackling as physical restraint, these elephants are kept in captivity and it is almost impossible to supply appropriate conditions for wild elephants in captivity. Just like any pel dug or cut, elephants need to be treated with respect and dignity, and whilst being captive this can not be done. Unlike other animals, elephants die young in captivity and this Is not only related to physical health, it is a well-recognised indicator that elephants suffer from mental restraint of biological stress. In 2015, approximately 3000-4000 elephants were used in tourism and with elephant tourism having such a high layover, asian elephants are now an endangered species (World Animal Protection, 2017).
Using captive endangered animals for the purpose of profit making, raises ethical questioning specifically around if entertainment and education purposes rationalise their use. The tradition of elephants in the tourism industry collapsed and therefore mahouts (riders and trainers) began elephant riding to pay for their expenses as well as to be able to pay for the 200+ kilos of food elephants eat daily. There are many additional ways young people can make money and therefore using elephants as a source of income without considering their moral emotions is another reason elephant tourism is completely unethical. On an even vaster unethical scale, most of the money gues towards the travel guides and agents rather than the mahouts and other carers of elephants. Emotional and physical torture Although elephants can weight a massive 6000 kilograms, they are not designed to carry heavy loads on their hacks. Additionally to the weight of a human, these elephants are forced to enature the weight of a trekking chair on their hack. From a young age baby elephants are taken from their familles to start undergoing treatment in order to be contmiled by workers within the elephant tourism industry. Elephants need freedom, simulation and enrichment along with minimal exercise