ELEPHANTS IN THAILAND
ELEPHANT ABUSE
Elephants in Thailand are forced to walk on hot tarmac roads by gangs of elephant owners and beg for fruit and food. The owners do not have a good experience with animal training and the elephants are cruelly treated and are commonly beaten. When travelling in the the city, the elephants do not get fed or given any water. Much of the fruit purchased from local sellers has been treated with chemicals and causes serious stomach problems and eventually death for the animals. These animals quickly suffer from stress through polluted air, poor diet, dehydration and loneliness. This kind of abuse towards elephant in Thailand is extremely cruel and these precious animals should not have to go through this torture and suffering.
Elephants are killed and tortured in many shocking ways. One of these awful processes is called the Phajaan. The way they do this is horrible. To 'capture' an elephant they are first taken as a baby from their herd, which means their herd is usually killed. The baby elephant is then put in a cage and has its legs tied together, as well as being died down so it cannot move. Then the elephant is tortured usually by being beaten with a bull hook and some sort of high voltage tazer. Some elephants even have their skin stripped and tails docked! During this process the elephant is given no food or water and this stage can last from weeks to months. Once the elephant has given up hope and is basically ready to die it will scream - they call this the breaking of its spirit, and it is at this point that whoever wants to train the elephant will give it their first food and water. From then on, the elephant will trust that person.
FOUR MAIN FACTORS
There are many factors that are resulting in extinction for elephants in Thailand. These factors have been put into four specific categories. All of these points need to be addressed and dealt with soon before we lose these sacred animals.
1. Human Encroachment on elephant territory - With a fast growing population, Asia does not have the land resources for both humans and wildlife populations.
2. Greed - Much land is set aside for growing human populations however there are a number of influential persons seeking huge land areas for personal gain. Illegal logging and other environmentally harmful pursuits lead to a reduction in grazing land for the animals.
3. Poaching - For ivory, skin or aphrodisiacs. These things are which elephants are said to have.
4. Sport - Unbelievably some people actually think the killing an animal is a sport. Wealthy people of these games are willing to travel and pay thousands of dollars for the pleasure of “bagging” an elephant.
Elephants in Thailand are forced to walk on hot tarmac roads by gangs of elephant owners and beg for fruit and food. The owners do not have a good experience with animal training and the elephants are cruelly treated and are commonly beaten. When travelling in the the city, the elephants do not get fed or given any water. Much of the fruit purchased from local sellers has been treated with chemicals and causes serious stomach problems and eventually death for the animals. These animals quickly suffer from stress through polluted air, poor diet, dehydration and loneliness. This kind of abuse towards elephant in Thailand is extremely cruel and these precious animals should not have to go through this torture and suffering.
Elephants are killed and tortured in many shocking ways. One of these awful processes is called the Phajaan. The way they do this is horrible. To 'capture' an elephant they are first taken as a baby from their herd, which means their herd is usually killed. The baby elephant is then put in a cage and has its legs tied together, as well as being died down so it cannot move. Then the elephant is tortured usually by being beaten with a bull hook and some sort of high voltage tazer. Some elephants even have their skin stripped and tails docked! During this process the elephant is given no food or water and this stage can last from weeks to months. Once the elephant has given up hope and is basically ready to die it will scream - they call this the breaking of its spirit, and it is at this point that whoever wants to train the elephant will give it their first food and water. From then on, the elephant will trust that person.
FOUR MAIN FACTORS
There are many factors that are resulting in extinction for elephants in Thailand. These factors have been put into four specific categories. All of these points need to be addressed and dealt with soon before we lose these sacred animals.
1. Human Encroachment on elephant territory - With a fast growing population, Asia does not have the land resources for both humans and wildlife populations.
2. Greed - Much land is set aside for growing human populations however there are a number of influential persons seeking huge land areas for personal gain. Illegal logging and other environmentally harmful pursuits lead to a reduction in grazing land for the animals.
3. Poaching - For ivory, skin or aphrodisiacs. These things are which elephants are said to have.
4. Sport - Unbelievably some people actually think the killing an animal is a sport. Wealthy people of these games are willing to travel and pay thousands of dollars for the pleasure of “bagging” an elephant.
This image shows the existing areas where wild elephants still live compared to their former habitat. It shows a dramatic decrease of vacant habitat land available for elephants in thailand.