Elephants are special creatures. They’re some of the larger and more intelligent members of the animal kingdom, and are a favorite of many children. Despite all of this, humanity hasn’t treated these gentle giants very well.
Obviously, these are wild animals.
Whether we’re talking about African elephants or their Asian cousins, these massive mammals are best left to their own devices. But humans have a long history of messing with elephants.
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Elephant rides are a thing.
Humans ride horses with no issue, so it stands to reason that elephants can handle even more weight. But just because we can do this doesn’t mean we ever should do this.
A recent incident in Thailand brought this into focus.
Sightseeing bus to Dinosaur Valley? That sounds awesome! But this tourist trap in Pattaya, in Eastern Thailand, is not awesome at all. All it takes is a closer look at the image above.
They offer elephant rides to tourists.
These elephants, wild animals by nature, are typically denied nutritious food, adequate water, and veterinary care. They’re also often confined in small sheds apart from the times when they’re giving rides to tourists.
Baby elephants bear the brunt of this.
A worried tourist snapped some video of a baby elephant, chained to its mother, who was busy giving out rides. The elephant calf looked to be in pretty rough shape.
It was a hot day.
With thermometers reading about 40°C (that’s 104°F), the calf — probably about a year old — struggled to keep up. You can hear onlookers expressing concern for the poor creature.
The little guy was tired.
The sluggish calf ambles along as a tourist is heard saying, “Oh no, he’s tired.” It isn’t known when the baby (or its mother, for that matter) was fed or had a drink of water.
It’s a cruel practice.
The tourist who shot the video told the Daily Mail , “There are many more baby elephants tied with their mother walking around with tourists at their backs….while these elephants are suffering.”
At one point the calf collapsed.
It got up pretty quickly, but it was certainly a troubling sign — particularly when the exhausted baby was forced to get up because the ropes that attached it to its mom were dragging it.
Allegations of mistreatment have been denied.
In a statement, a spokesman for the Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens said, “All of the elephants are healthy and treated very well. If there is a problem, they are treated at the vets. All of the babies here are healthy.”
We need to be better to elephants.
This comes just weeks after a baby elephant at a different location in Thailand broke both of its legs. The calf was forced to perform up to three times a day.
What do you think?
It’s a tough story to process for anyone who grew up watching Dumbo , or even anyone who appreciates a good baby elephant gif. Check out the video below and share your thoughts in the comments. h/t: Daily Mail
