Standing in the burning heat, jabbed with metal hooks, with chains cutting into their flesh – this is the cruel reality behind elephant tourism in Thailand.
Standing in the burning heat, jabbed with metal hooks, with chains cutting into their flesh – this is the cruel reality behind elephant tourism in Thailand. And tourists from Britain unwittingly play a part in their torment. There are more than 200 unethical elephant venues in Thailand where visitors demand selfies with these majestic animals or clamber aboard their backs to ride through the jungle.
The Express went to Thailand on a mission to uncover the suffering of elephants. One of the last stops on the trip was to Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Chon Buri where they are cruelly made to dance underwater while bobbing their heads above and below the surface. On the other side of the glass, hundreds of men, women and children sit in the crowd cheering at the acrobatics and filming it on their phones.
The animals endure brutality for at least six months, all day, every day (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
Life for these elephants involves a great deal of pain, fear, dehydration, malnutrition, abuse, suffering and humiliation. Many are on the brink of death and beaten with a bullhook. With its metal spike and curved blade, this weapon would not look out of place on a medieval battlefield.
Campaigners at Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) are demanding a ban on UK firms marketing holiday venues that exploit elephants.
The Animals Abroad Bill was intended to ensure that cruel animal practices overseas were not supported by UK consumers.
The Bill, first introduced in June, would also ban live exports, and imports of hunting trophies, fur and foie gras.
“Will the Sunak government prove the sincerity of its declared support by backing the Animals (Low Welfare Activities Abroad) Bill, due for a second Commons reading on February 3?”
Many elephants are on the brink of death and beaten with a bullhook (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
“Our government must bring forward the promised Animals Abroad Bill, which would ban tour operators from advertising cruel animal attractions and experiences, including elephant rides.
“Meanwhile, PETA urges tourists to vote with their wallets and leave wild animal attractions off their itineraries.”
A Defra spokesperson said: “The UK has some of the highest animal welfare standards in the world and our Action Plan for Animal Welfare demonstrates our commitment to promoting high animal welfare standards, both at home and abroad.
Life for these elephants involves a great deal of pain, fear, malnutrition, abuse and more (Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)