The Dark Truth of Elephant Rides in Asia

Animal cruelty in the name of tourism is a common practice around the world. PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has been actively advocating ban on all kinds of animal cruelty since its inception. While there are hundreds of ways in which we are harming our biodiversity, wildlife tourism is one odd way of doing it. In 2016, the death of an overworked elephant in Cambodia forced the Elephant Group Committee to announce a total ban on elephant rides in Angkor Wat from early 2020.

Another country that has aggressively exploited animals like monkeys, elephants, cubs, dolphins, tigers and several others to its benefit is Thailand. In the past few decades, there has been a significant rise in the number of inbound tourists in Thailand. As a result, you can now find orangutans performing drums and taking selfies at almost every wildlife park in Thailand.

Many places in Laos offer elephant rides, claiming it to be as natural as it was back in the day when there was no transport. Every year, there is an Elephant Festival (Elefentasia) celebrated in the Sayaboury Province of Laos. It is a beauty contest event among the elephants. Adding to this, while all the tourists enjoy this event, one of them may even get a chance to ride an elephant for free. For this event, animals are abusively trained to obey their keepers and help them earn a livelihood.

As reported by PETA, even the places that call themselves orphanages and sanctuaries for animals, and offer time with happy elephants, are completely dishonest with the tourists. They claim that they are ethical but they are not. The trainers keep the social animals confined in chains, use bull hooks and tie heavy howdahs (which causes permanent spinal damage) on their back for humans to sit on it. All Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Dehiwala Zoo, and Kandy Esala Perahera festival use abusive methods to control the animal.

Even though trading and holding captive of elephants are illegal in India (under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972), elephant rides are quite prevalent in several states. Especially in Rajasthan, Kerala and Arunachal Pradesh, the elephant rides or safaris are a popular tourist activity and attracts travellers in large numbers. Elephants in India symbolise royalty, so to create a similar experience for all the tourists, the helpless animals are brutally tortured and brought under control.

The Chitwan National Park of Nepal claims to have improved the lives of captivated elephants by initiating walks with elephants instead of rides on them. However, in a recent expose by PETA, it was clear that the elephants are still tortured and are forced to perform entertainment activities for tourists. The elephants are also forced to play games for the Chitwan Elephant Festival. After PETA released a video on the horrifying treatment of the animals, most of the sponsors of the event decided to remove their support from the programme.