Experience Thailand without riding elephants!

From a wild animal to a slave without spirit

Paradisiacal islands, luxuriant jungles, eternal temples, elephants by the thousands...These are promises of an adventure in the Kingdom of Thailand. The picture would be idyllic if these pachyderms were left alone, once the emblematic animal of Thai culture, an immaculate symbol on the national flag until 1917. Today, elephants are relegated to the rank of slaves destined to amuse tourists.

Brutal taming methods are deeply rooted in Thai culture supplied by the demand of tourists.

Domestic animals for the most part are captured at an early age, taken from their mother, who defends them relentlessly. It is said that for every young elephant captured, 4 adults are killed. Poaching may well be illegal but it is common in Asia. Then entrusted to trainers, the young elephants experience phajaan, this ill treatment is designed to separate the animal's spirit from its body as in ancient ancestral beliefs. To this end, the elephants are tortured on different parts of their body, hit with a very characteristic spike, the bullhook, to instil a fear of man and lifelong submission. Only 50% of these animals survive...once the animal is compliant, then begins the dressage phase to make the animal more attractive to tourists...

Boycott tours on elephant back and entire days spent looking after them

Sanctuaries are offering various activities to engage with the impressive animal and tourists are intrigued to get close to the elephant. What visitors do not know is that riding elephants can cause long-term harm as their spines are not made to support the weight of humans.

Many tourists who have visited a sanctuary were left with nothing but disgust of the animal cruelty experienced at first hand.

In Thailand, it is better to visit reception centres who rescue abused animals, care for them and offer them a tranquil life to encourage them to forget their past miseries.