Comments on: Wildlife Tourism In Thailand: An Elephant-Sized Controversy https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/ Food, wine & culture for the ethical traveler Thu, 23 May 2024 20:19:30 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 By: Jessica Festa https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-262073 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 18:42:00 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-262073 In reply to Anna.

@Anna: Check out Elephant Nature Park. They’re doing great work and you can still have an elephant experience!

]]> By: Anna https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-262048 Mon, 29 Aug 2016 12:39:27 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-262048 Thank you for this post. I have dreamt about an elephant tour but had no idea about the mistreatment that goes into providing this “service.” If I ever have an opportunity to interact with elephants, I will do my research to make sure I am doing it in a sustainable way.

]]> By: Jessica Festa https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-261480 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 03:18:35 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-261480 Just so all commenters know the section on “reputable companies” has been updated quite a bit, so please take a look.

]]> By: Madyson https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-261475 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:11:11 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-261475 In reply to Jessica Festa.

I agree with John on this one. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre simply can’t be deemed ethical from an animal welfare stand point. It could see this as a ‘lesser of evils’ however, the bottom line is that these elephants are still required to work- whether that be lugging tourists, testing their strength in logging demonstrations, playing musical instruments (referred to as the “Thai Elephant Orchestra” by the TECC), or paint pictures. These are not ethical. To understand what these elephants go through to be ‘taught’ how to perform, please look into the “Phajaan” or “the crush”.

To truly be deemed ethical, though my lens and others, is to allow for elephants to be elephants. To allow them to engage one another, form social bonds and hierarchies, to forage and feed 12-14 hours a day (as necessary physiologically) and critically, the ability to disengage. To not force the elephant to put on a show, to carry a mahout, to carry a tourist, to trek, to lug a heavy log, to play a musical instrument. It is vital that we reassess our definition of what ethical means.
I have visited Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and this is the epitome of how ‘domesticated’ elephants may regain their dignity while still providing livelihoods to the vibrant and knowledgable Thai people, through tourism.

I can completely appreciate publishing an article urging travellers to think ethically about their decisions, however, it is morally unjust to say that the TECC is even close to ethical.

]]> By: Madyson https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-261474 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 17:04:43 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-261474 I agree with John on this one. The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre simply can’t be deemed ethical from an animal welfare stand point. It could see this as a ‘lesser of evils’ however, the bottom line is that these elephants are still required to work- whether that be lugging tourists, testing their strength in logging demonstrations, playing musical instruments (referred to as the “Thai Elephant Orchestra” by the TECC), or paint pictures. These are not ethical. To understand what these elephants go through to be ‘taught’ how to perform, please look into the “Phajaan” or “the crush”.

To truly be deemed ethical, though my lens and others, is to allow for elephants to be elephants. To allow them to engage one another, form social bonds and hierarchies, to forage and feed 12-14 hours a day (as necessary physiologically) and critically, the ability to disengage. To not force the elephant to put on a show, to carry a mahout, to carry a tourist, to trek, to lug a heavy log, to play a musical instrument. It is vital that we reassess our definition of what ethical means.
I have visited Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai and this is the epitome of how ‘domesticated’ elephants may regain their dignity while still providing livelihoods to the vibrant and knowledgable Thai people, through tourism.

I can completely appreciate publishing an article urging travellers to think ethically about their decisions, however, it is morally unjust to say that the TECC is even close to ethical.

]]> By: Jessica Festa https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-261288 Wed, 29 Apr 2015 15:30:25 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-261288 In reply to John Gear.

@John: The elephant trekking issue in Thailand, especially Chiang Mai, is such a huge problem because magazines and tours market them as being fun/bucket list experiences when they’re actually awful for the elephants. When you say you were at a center two years ago which one was it? I can also direct you to a good travel blogger friend of mine who lived in Chiang Mai and worked in the elephant conservation industry. Her name is Diana Edelman (diana (at) dtravelsround (dot) com). She has a blog, as well: http://dtravelsround.com/

Hope this helps!

Jessie

]]> By: John Gear https://epicureandculture.com/elephant-tourism-thailand/#comment-261284 Sat, 25 Apr 2015 07:40:35 +0000 http://epicureandculture.com/?p=3054#comment-261284 Hi Jessica,
Good article. I found this article in a Google search, “thai elephant conservation centre chiang mai.” I was at that one myself a few years ago. I’m a bit confused by this issue…you mention that good centres don’t allow elephant rides – but while I was there, they were allowing them. That was two years before your article was published, so maybe that’s changed?
I’m really interested in finding out whether or not this place is really good, as I’ve read some negative stuff about it on a Matador article similar to yours. Other than those comments, I’m finding it hard to dig up anything bad about it.
I did visit another place in Chiang Mai that offered rides, and I could tell it was not anything like the first place you mention – it left a really bad taste in my mouth.
Cheers,
John

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