Don't:

• Ride elephants, watch them perform tricks, or participate in religious processions 

• Pet tiger cubs or take selfies with tigers 

• Visit marine parks and watch orcas/dolphins perform - there is a lot of behind-the-scenes cruelty

• Cage birds in your homes or keep fish in small bowls or tanks 

• Watch animal performances in circuses 

• Watch horse racing/greyhound racing 

• Watch bull fighting /rodeos or similar shows 

• Go to zoos and watch animals caged or in small enclosures where they develop zoochosis due to confinement 

Do:

• View animals in the wild - in safaris or national parks where they roam free 

• Support genuine sanctuaries like Elephant Nature Park in Thailand 

• Donate money towards protecting wild animal habitats

• Donate to organizations that are working on conservation efforts 

• Support organizations that rescue and rehabilitate animals that were abused in the entertainment industry

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The Trouble with Tourism

Contributed by The Gentle Giants Elephant Stay Home Project

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Part One of Two

What happens to elephants in Thailand that injure or kill a tourist, whether by accident or the stress from daily abuse?

On any given day in Thailand, tourists could be paying to climb atop, bathe, take a selfie, engage in up-close unprotected encounters with an elephant that has previously trampled or gored a human being.

This is not a fact you’ll find in glossy holiday brochures, which showcase travelers blissfully riding pachyderms as they lumber through the jungle, joyfully bathing them in rivers or mud holes, or engaging in other up-close, unprotected encounters. Nor do elephant handlers tend to mention to selfie-snapping tourists if their elephants have a history of violence.

Instead, elephants that kill are often resold to new owners, renamed to obscure their identities, and put through the "crush" all over again. They are then recycled back into the tourist trade so that new handlers can keep collecting cash from visitors — who are often more concerned with Facebook "likes" than animal abuse.

Laundering dangerous captive elephants’ identities is abetted by poor regulation. An elephant handler is traditionally a person who has developed a deep bond with the elephant over many years. However, the job is increasingly taken on by poor migrants from Myanmar with little experience, and their is no governmental testing of the mahouts’ skills or license required.

Compounding the danger to tourists is the use of male elephants. Many bull elephants in musth continue to work in the tourism trades. It is perfectly legal in Thailand to place a family of tourists in front of or on top of an 8,000-pound bull elephant’s back — even when it is agitated by musth.

Beyond the concerns of safety, there are ethical considerations that should compel travelers to rethink elephant rides, selfies, bathing, up-close unprotected encounters, circus venues (where elephants perform ridiculous & unnatural tricks), etc. Mother elephants are force bred to produce babies. Babies are then separated from their mothers at just a few months old. Their spirits are broken as they experience great physical and mental trauma in order to be forced to interact with and perform for people.

Basically an elephants subjugation, whether baby, juvenile or adult, is secured through beatings, stabbings with hooks, chains, tight restraint & more — a truly gory process, known as the "crush" or Phajaan, that works best on baby elephants separated from their mothers.

Elephants forced to entertain tourists all day are also frequently deprived of rest, food & water. Working for hours on end under the hot sun and on the hot streets.

Elephants suffering from ailments and/or injuries are unlikely to be the most cooperative of animals when it comes to performing tricks and meeting the general public. They also suffer from extreme fatigue. To combat this tiredness, it is commonplace to drug the elephants with amphetamines to keep them "on the move". A classic symptom of drugging can be seen in the elephants eyes; cloudy & dead looking.

It's easy to stereotype & pass all the blame on all owners & mahouts. Why don't they just change? The problem is multi-layered & complicated. In Thailand, the problems were particularly exacerbated by the logging ban of 1989 when thousands of elephants were put out of work simultaneously. The elephants’ owners, often small families, have seen their animals go from being net wage earners to being a huge drain on their finances. Many traditional mahouts see no option other than to take their elephants to unethical camps in order to earn an income. On the other hand, richer and more unscrupulous criminal elements have been buying up high numbers of elephants and renting them out to these same camps; using the suffering of these mighty animals to line their pockets.

When Covid shut down tourism in Thailand, owners, mahouts and elephants were forced home. Many were suffering, humans and elephants alike. Yet, this provided an enormous opportunity to demonstrate a different, more humane way of living with their elephants, while still making a living. Provide options never presented to them before. Many of those Gentle Giants has supported have seen this as positive. The boys & men get to remain home with their families. The elephants get to just be elephants.

Unfortunately, tourism is opening back up and many are tempted by money. Also, many owners/mahouts who are trying to go ethical have already conditioned to give into the demands of the tourist. They will offer a ride or selfie opportunity, thinking that is what the tourist wants. Even though many owners/mahouts have expressed to Gentle Giants that they don't want tourists touching their elephants. That they prefer tourists observing from a respectful, safe distance. Therefore, the responsibility lies with the tourist to "SAY NO". To let these owners know that watching natural elephant behavior from a respected distance is more of an adventure; a natural, beautiful unforgettable experience.

Those of us already educated on the subject will, together, continue to spread awareness to unsuspecting tourists. We will, together, continue to be supportive of those owners who are motivated to live a new way of life. We will, together, continue to show that it is possible to coexist peacefully with their elephants; while being able to support their families & communities.

"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." – Baha’U’Llah

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Part Two of Two

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May, 2022 - Thailand is aiming for 5 million to 15 million foreign tourist arrivals this year as the country further eases travel restrictions to support the key tourism sector. The Southeast Asian country removed on-arrival COVID-19 tests from May 1, the latest measure aimed at reviving its battered tourism industry which generally accounts for about 12% of gross domestic product. Tourists are expected to spend between 630 billion baht ($18.35 billion usd) and 1.2 trillion baht this year. The tourism industry, however, may not return to pre-pandemic levels, 40 million visitors in 2019 who spent about 1.91 trillion baht, until 2026.

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"Laws need to change... Elephants shouldn't be owned....." We hear you! And actually there are a number of organizations Gentle Giants supports for their tireless work at the legal level to end unethical, inhumane tourist attractions in Thailand.

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NOW more then ever we MUST come together to support current, & conversion to ethical tourism attractions in Thailand. from every possible avenue; legal, education, awareness campaigns, organizations supporting ethical tourism, etc.

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Many are fighting at a legal level. This takes time & is often met with opposition. We as the general public, tourists, advocates, etc need to stand behind all organizations who are diligently fighting.

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As many of you are aware, our own friend & partner, Saengduean Lek Chailert is working in Parliament to change animal welfare in Thailand, as well as continuing to work with elephant owners, camps, etc to change to a more ethical way of living. Gentle Giants continues to support Lek in any and every way possible.

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In Thailand it is illegal for elephants to be living in urban areas. The government tries to enforce the law but it is very difficult. The mahouts hide their elephants and constantly move them to different areas of the city. However, even when elephants are located there are great difficulties. The average city police officer has no idea how to deal with a four-ton-elephant and often it is easier for law enforcement to turn a blind eye to the problem. Occasionally, the government brings in experienced mahouts and purges the city, but it is only a matter of time before the elephants (particularly begging elephants) are sneaked back in and are on the streets again.

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Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) is diligently working to pass The Asian Elephant Bill. Which put an end to tourism companies advertising unethical, inhumane entertainment venues.

https://1drv.ms/b/s!AoWNtKiQN_5CpKoPwEramrpFuIWzAA

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Recently, our friend & dedicated warrior to helping save the Asian elephants, Duncan McNair Stae, responded to this article: "Jacob Rees-Mogg refuses to debate why he ‘blocked’ bill that would have spared elephants from torture." https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rees-mogg-bill-mark-spencer-elephants-ban-b2098382.html

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"Fellow Tories may have little idea what grievous damage Jacob Rees-Mogg and Mark Spencer's blocking of their Government's promises to ban advertising of tourism brutality to endangered Asian elephants and their babies will have on the species. They have persuaded the Prime Minister to abandon his promised measures as "Un-Tory" and that such animal welfare measures have no value. In a large independent survey in April, 87% of Mr Mogg's own constituents in Somerset NE strongly supported the ban. Just 2% opposed it. (86% and 2% for Spencer in Nottingham Sherwood constituency). This reflects all polling and surveys across the UK. So who do Messrs Mogg and Spencer represent and where can their views possibly come from? This seems a subversion of the democratic and legislative process. Will these two MPs explain if they are collaborating with the 1,200 UK travel companies profiting from advertising nearly 300 of the most brutal elephant "attractions" abroad. Such are his principles that Mr Mogg cites "diary commitments" as preventing him debating the issues. So Save The Asian Elephants has asked him to write explaining his views. Surely he can manage a letter, or an email. Unless Government restores its promises - and acts now - those outside this administration must progress this cause. Please support those demanding action by Government, including Labour's Baroness Hayman in her Oral Question in the House of Lords on 20 June. As unregulated, ruthless elephant tourism markets reopen, God help the Asian elephants in their pain and peril." - Duncan McNair

The below video, produced by STAE, featuring Peter Eagan, shows a shocking incident at Nong Nooch Village Garden resort in Thailand (More than 2,000 tourists from around the world visit daily) where a young student nurse on holiday, Andrea Costigan, was horribly killed there by an abused Asian elephant. (Full length video https://vimeo.com/384543646 )

Duncan McNair Stae, CEO - Save The Asian Elephants states: "It shows the complete futility of travel industry self-regulation, and the need for STAE’s law now to ban the UK (and worldwide) advertising of brutal overseas venues where baby and adult Asian elephants are tortured for easy use in tourism"

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Please join Gentle Giants in supporting STAE's efforts. Please sign & share petition & email your MP, Prime Minister, Secretary of State today! https://stae.org/help-us/

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Although elephants are considered Thailand's national animal and Thailand has existing animal welfare laws (as does India), the existing laws have many loopholes. These loopholes allow many forms of exploitation, as well as trade in elephants, and fail to protect elephants or ensure that they live good lives.

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World Animal Protection UK has also been working on a new bill to protect elephants in Thailand. The Elephant Bill is being written with three different purposes: To close the current loopholes in the law for elephants in captivity; To remove the current loophole in the ban on commercial breeding, riding and shows with elephants; To endure elephant-friendly venues get support.

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Please join Gentle Giants in supporting World Animal Protection - Join their movement "Wildlife - not entertainers" campaign. Add your voice and call for more tour operators around the world to join in protecting wildlife. https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/news/tourist-tragically-killed-elephant-thailand

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We, Gentle Giants, will continue to advocate for all gentle ones. We will continue to support those who are motivated to live compassionately with their elephants. We will continue to work with owners/mahouts who look for a new way of life for both them and their families. We will continue to remove support from those who choose to be unethical. We will continue to educate and spread awareness regarding the detriments of unethical, inhumane tourist attractions. We will never stop fighting to end the cruelty, abuse, & slavery supplied because of the selfish greed and demand humans have to be entertained at the expense of others.

 

Learn more: www.thegentlegiants.org

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Please also read: https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/thailand-elephants-back-to-the-forest/

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"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." – J.K. Rowling