Thailand: See elephants responsibly
Pierre
10 Feb 2023
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Thailand is a vast country where you can enjoy a wide range of activities. Between big cities like Bangkok and places lost in the wilderness, your trip can be totally different from that of any other traveler.
Getting up close to Asian elephants is a wish shared by many travelers. We recommend visiting elephant sanctuaries that focus on the protection and rehabilitation of these animals. These sanctuaries offer encounter programs with elephants without resorting to activities that are harmful to the animals, such as shows or tourist walks.
Yes, but at what price? And not just any kind!
If you travel to Thailand, you’ll find that it’s very easy to take an elephant tour and meet these giants of nature. While it may sound dreamy and trendy, the reality behind this attraction is quite different.
Elephants are highly emotional animals, and live their entire lives with their families. When baby elephants are domesticated and taken away from their families, large numbers of elephants are killed to protect the baby from capture. Elephants born in captivity are often separated from their mothers at an early age to be used, and do not always survive. If they manage to survive this separation, they are domesticated and conditioned to obey the elephant trainers with a bull-hook. This pointed spike is used to direct the elephant, forcing it to walk, turn right or even turn around, under the pressure of this object which the elephant associates with fear. This practice, very painful for the animal, is often used by trainers during elephant rides. What’s more, the back is the most fragile part of the elephant’s body. As it’s not designed to bear such a heavy load, some elephants succumb to the weight and heat during their rides.
In conclusion, we really advise you to avoid this activity, even if the tourist center tells you that the animals here are not mistreated, which is in most cases untrue.
Fortunately, there are respectful alternatives for meeting this sacred Asian animal. Of course, the best thing to do is to see the animal in its wild state, but be aware that in ethical sanctuaries, the elephants have been rescued from abuse or forced labor, not captured.
In an ethical sanctuary, you’ll never see a human on an elephant’s back, or even an elephant with a frame. You can approach the elephants after they have familiarized themselves with you by feeding or bathing them. These activities are not harmful to the animal’s health. Elephants feel a lot of emotions, so you’ll know right away if the animal is happy. They are very playful and love to play in water or mud, but they are still wild animals. When meeting an elephant, it’s important to behave calmly and carefully, so as not to stress it.
To differentiate “real” sanctuaries from tourist sanctuaries, a good sanctuary will regulate the number of visitors for the well-being and respect of the elephant. What’s more, you’ll see that the elephants aren’t forced to stay in the bath or play with you. If an elephant is fed up, the mahouts will let him go even if you’re still there. This action is very important, as it shows the elephant’s freedom and respect for its desires, just as we would respect a human being in the same way.
To find an ethical and respectful sanctuary, you should know that they are often located in a more natural area to give the elephants freedom and so that they are not frightened by the noise of the city.
If you really want to see elephants with your own eyes, you can meet them directly in their natural environment. However, you won’t be able to interact with them, and you can’t be 100% sure of seeing them. In Thailand, there are many expeditions to national parks with guides to get off the beaten track and observe elephants and other local animals in the wild.
We recommend 3 ethical parks for this animal-friendly experience. The first natural park is
Khao Sok
located in southern Thailand, in the province of Surat. It offers a resort concept with a restaurant, so you can stay here for excursions during the day and sleep in a tree house at night. Several excursions are on offer, including canoeing in the park, jungle walks, elephant encounters and even night safaris.
The second is the
Khao Yai
located near Bangkok. The park offers 2 types of excursions: half-day and full-day hikes. In small groups, your guide will take you on a tour of Khao Yai’s wildlife, where you’ll come across gibbons, wild elephants and reptiles among the park’s 800 species.
The third park on our list is Khao Sam Roi Yot in Prachuap Kirikhan province. It was declared Thailand’s first marine national park in 1966. Its name, Khao Sam Roi Yot, means “mountain of 300 peaks”. The park offers a wide range of activities. It has the advantage of being right by the sea, so you can relax on Laem Sala beach and then go for a seafood dish. For hiking enthusiasts, head for the salt marshes to discover oyster and shrimp farming in Thailand, an experience not to be missed. You can also go on a caving adventure by visiting the Phraya Nakhon cave. The wildlife in this park is truly diverse. You can see birds, geckos, elephants and even Irrawaddy dolphins if you’re lucky.
The principle of these national parks is, of course, that all the animals are free-ranging, so there’s no guarantee that you’ll come across them, so keep your eyes peeled.
In conclusion, don’t take an elephant ride if you’re traveling in Thailand. Your sanctuary experience will be far more enriching and authentic. You’ll have unforgettable memories of your interactions with these adorable giants. Even if it still represents a tourist business not worth observing elephants in the wild, it’s a good alternative to elephant rides, which don’t respect the animal’s condition at all.
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