Asian elephants are endangered and decreasing everyday due to a number of threats including: deforestation, lack of suitable habitat and habitat fragmentation, all of which are in the control of humans.

Although the primary threat to the Asian elephant is the rapidly growing human population and a lack of space and resources between the two species, there are additional threats that humans pose to Asian elephants. A major threat that humans present is the tourism and entertainment industry that has been exploiting a number of species for centuries.

With the removal of elephants from the wild to serve as tourism attractions, this contributes to dwindling numbers in the wild while majorly impacting the population that is currently being held in captivity. 

How Elephants Are Being Exploited

Elephants throughout Thailand are being used for multiple purposes in captivity: illegal logging, trekking/riding, circuses, street begging, and historical reenactments. In order to participate in these activities, elephants undergo domination-based training methods in which individuals are restrained with ropes and chains and implements such as bull hooks are used to get the elephant to submit to humans.

This method is used as a physical training method that affects the psychological health of the elephant. Psychologically, this training is meant to replace the love and memory the calf has for its mother with a fear and submission to humans.

In Thailand this training method is referred to as “phajaan” which translates to “the crush” and can often take up to a week withholding food and often water from the elephant. Often if the elephant has a deep wound, motor oil is applied to it which often results in infection; further, the elephants are under constant watch to prevent them from stepping on their own trunks to end their lives.

Once the training is complete, the elephant must learn to walk with humans riding them. This separate training process entails the elephant walking in circles, usually around a pole or tree, with its feet chained to get use to walking when commanded and at an appropriate speed. Once the elephant is done with this whole process, it is ready to work in tourism or illegal logging.

This industry poses as a major threat to both individual elephants and the population on a large scale. With increasing popularity of elephant rides and shows, more elephants are being taken from the wild daily to serve in the tourism industry. There are about 35,000-40,000 Asian elephants left in the world today, and about 15,000-20,000 are in captivity. With upwards of 60% of the remaining population living within human confines, the tourism industry serves as a major threat to this species surviving in the wild. 

Many elephants sustain injuries due to work in these industries, some common ailments include: dislocated joints, abscesses, blindness and extreme emaciation. From the illegal logging industry, many of the elephants have dislocated joints from the physical toll of dragging such heavy logs. This cruel industry often utilizes negative reinforcement to punish elephants for not being compliant, cases of elephants being blinded as punishment are shockingly common.

Other common outcomes for these elephants includes being brought into big cities and paraded around markets with street beggars or being used in circuses. Many of these elephants that have damaged eyes from the lights and flash photography as well as injuries from being in such crowded spaces such as being hit by cars or falling and breaking their legs.

The physical demand of working in tourism is often too much, resulting in permanent disabilities and psychological disorders. Despite their destiny after the breaking ceremony, a tremendous amount of physical and mental abuse follows them.

The majority of rescued elephants are in poor body condition due to the lack of care at many of these tourism focused facilities. Free roaming elephants eat up to 18 hours per day; however, in tourism they are often not granted access to food or water for long periods of the day which has significant impacts on their health. This unethical treatment of elephants is not only psychologically and physically damaging to the individual, but detrimental for the Asian elephant population as it continues to decline.

With the vast amounts of sanctuaries worldwide, it can be difficult for tourists to decipher which are humane and contributing to conservation and which are exploiting their elephants for profit. Thailand’s economy is reliant on tourism and many tourists go to Asia with the intentions of riding elephants. Through understanding the struggles elephants endure at the hands of humans, we can continue informing potential tourists to stay off the backs of elephants and research more ethical ways to view these magnificent animals.

It All Starts With Demand

By educating others, we can put an end to inhumane elephant tourism starting with the consumer. If unethical elephant tourism becomes less popular, and there is a reduced number of tourists monetarily supporting these facilities, there is hope to changing the face of elephant tourism. The industries we support are the ones that will thrive.

I urge you to continue talking about this uncomfortable issue and be conscious consumers. Pay close attention to how ethical any wildlife interactions are that you may be having, no wild animal should be harshly treated and confined for the benefit of people.