Seeing elephants in Thailand while protecting them, it's possible!

Thailand is one of the few countries that still houses Asian elephants. While the endangered African elephant population is estimated at 400,000 individuals, its Asian cousin numbers only 50,000. The species experienced a significant resurgence at the beginning of the 20th century with the advent of modernism in Asia. In Thailand, for example, there were about 100,000 individuals in 1900, but only 13,000 fifty years later. Today, there are no more than 4,000 elephants in Thailand, half of which live in the wild.

These figures are impressive and lead us to question the cause of this considerable decline. During a trip to Thailand, many tourists wish to experience elephants, so it's important to choose your site carefully.

Elephant protection, everyone's concern.

To understand this, we must go back to the origin of elephant domestication which began over 5,000 years ago. The bond that unites man and elephant is not new. The strength and intelligence of the elephant quickly led man to domesticate it in various ways: farm work, transport on difficult terrain, military asset, and even in the religious universe during ceremonies. The indispensability of the animal in everyday human life benefited the species. Also, since human impact on nature was very limited, animals could thrive with vast wild spaces.

So what caused the incredible decline in numbers over a century?

On one hand, the reduction of the natural habitat space of the species due to massive deforestation and human use of these spaces. Regarding the bond between man and animal, machines and industrialization quickly replaced the work of elephants. Even in military contexts, armored tanks soon replaced what was once an indispensable asset for victory. In short, the animal almost became a nuisance for humans.

So how does this concern you?

After all, if the number of elephants has decreased it’s not your fault. It’s simple: with tourism, humanity discovered a new use for pachyderms transformed into attractions for travelers seeking exoticism.

The pitfalls of elephant farms in Thailand

Visiting Thailand or other Southeast Asian countries often presents the opportunity to take elephant rides and attend other shows where, for example, the animal will paint on canvas or play football.

But don't believe that it does this for pleasure, because it loves it or out of love for its (master). If the animal obeys, it's because there is an entire process of submission that involves breaking the elephant from a very young age. This is what is called .

Hold on tight; here’s what it consists of:

How to meet elephants in Thailand without harming them?

As a consumer, you have the power not to fund this trade. Because by riding mistreated elephants and paying to see shows, you are complicit in these inhumane practices.

Going to Thailand means knowing how to choose your activities wisely.

In response to these violent and cruel methods, a voice rose 30 years ago — that of the Thai Sangduen. As a little girl, she witnessed phajaan; the tortured child suffered so much he cried out and she asked the mahout to stop. He responded: "No, he doesn't have time to rest; he'll rest when he's dead."

From then on, she decided she would one day create a conservation and protection center for these animals. She succeeded in doing so in 1996 with the help of Green Tours. This is how Elephant Nature Park came into being in Chiang Mai; the sanctuary takes in abused elephants and victims of mass tourism. They live in an environment as natural as possible, close to what they would have in the wild. Traumatized by their previous lives as slaves, most have lost their will to live.

The sanctuary heals elephants and helps them recover mentally where wounds are deepest. This first sanctuary was an example for the country and even for countries that also have Asian elephants. Conservation centers thus appeared everywhere.

During a trip to Thailand, ask the local agency Odasie which shares this vision of respect for animals and the country to take you to discover elephants; it exclusively sends its travelers with reputed sanctuaries. The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai first and foremost, amidst lush nature but also Elephant Haven in Kanchanaburi as well as Pang Nga Elephant Park at the heart of Phang Nga region in Southern Thailand.

There is still much more to say about this topic but we will not write a thesis on this difficult yet fascinating subject. It is a topic particularly dear to us and one we wanted to talk about with you. So during your tour in Thailand don't fall into the trap of mass tourism and "animal attraction." Don’t think you can't do anything about this situation because you represent the positive 'lobby' of consumption. You have the power to make change by supporting just and fundamentally humane causes.