Elephant Tourism in Thailand
RESEARCH
Cultural Use and Opinion
Elephants revered in Thailand for intelligence, warm nature -domesticated for work and warfare
Thai tradition of using elephants in industry ended in 1989 following the large floods that were partly because of irresponsible logging
Outdated legislation equates rights of the domestic elephant with cattle
Why is this happening?
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Government’s cancellation of logging concessions put thousands of elephants and mahout owners out of work
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Many mahouts fled to cities to beg, turned to illegal logging, or tourism
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Many large threats to wild elephants-no room to roam, habitat conflict with humans, ivory poaching, and capturing of young elephants
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Illegal to have elephants walking the street of Bangkok
CAPTIVITY
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The Crush or Phajaan is a traditional method originated in hill-tribe communities in India and South East Asia used to break a young elephant’s spirit and make them submissive to humans
Impact on Elephants
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Scientifically proven that an elephant will never forget the torment
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Lasting emotional and mental distress from being taken from family or watching their families die
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Many young elephants taken from the wild to supply the tourist and entertainment industries
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Many who are cruelly treated die before age 5
Covid-19 Impact
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About 85 camps closing their doors in Northern Thailand and laid off 5,000 staff
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Vital resources are lacking to maintain the 2,500 elephants that are bred for commercial use -Mahouts are struggling to afford food
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Elephants require 10% of body weight in food every day- up to 400kg of grass, leaves, fruit, veggies -some require supplements-- if not risk of malnutrition and starvation
