Travel Diary #2: Important considerations when playing with ELEPHANTS (Thailand)

The Sad Truth

Unfortunately, most domesticated elephants you find in Thailand will have suffered throughout their life by being tied up, beaten and poked into submission. As the tourism industry provides such an opportunity for money-making, these elephants have been controlled through the use of a hooked stick, in order learn tricks and to entertain tourists.

That being said, during my recent trip to Thailand the opportunity to get close to an elephant was too enticing to dismiss. Thankfully, aware of the growing consciousness of travellers seeking a friendly and ethical way to engage with elephants, several elephant sanctuaries have emerged who adopt formerly abused elephants and rehabilitate them. Many of these are in the Chiang Mai area of Northern Thailand.

Ethical Elephant Sanctuaries

Ethical parks train elephants to engage with humans through food rewards, rather than through punishment. This allows the elephants to be themselves and their distinct personalities shine through!

During my time in Chiang Mai I spent a day caring for my own elephant - a nine month pregnant female called Mai-Joon. Ethical elephant camps will differ in the day structure, but speaking from my own experience a typical camp will allow you to feed, bathe and walk with the elephants. No elephants are forced to approach or engage with the humans - they come in their own time, although holding out bananas certainly helps!

If you want to have a similar experience, it is important to Follow these Tips:

1) Do not ride the elephants!
No elephant in the wild would allow someone to sit on their back; it is simply not natural and suggests the elephants will have been trained to accept you. Instead, find a camp that lets you walk with the elephants, next to them.

2) Know what to look for!
Elephants who are bleeding or swaying side to side are NOT healthy or well-treated elephants. Bull hooks are inhumane and should never be spotted around an elephant camp. Furthermore, the elephants should not be expected to perform any tricks for you.

3) Do your research beforehand!
All camp representatives you will meet will claim to be running ethical sanctuaries due to the growing demand for ethical tourism. However, this is not the case. Make sure to research beforehand - websites such as TripAdvisor are a great aid in hearing others' first-hand experiences.

4) Plan your experience!
Do you want a short elephant experience? Or do you want to volunteer for a few days?
The most famous ethical sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Elephant Nature Park, offers day visits, overnight stays, as well as long-term volunteer projects. The Surin Project deals directly with the previously abused elephants and their trainers (mahouts) who have turned to inhumane means to make a living. The Surin Project relies on volunteers to help keep the elephants and the mahouts off the streets and reduce the instance of unethical animal treatment. Around 200 mahouts and elephants live here!
Alongside these are numerous sanctuaries caring for sick and rehabilitated elephants, all offering unique experiences.

Remember, as tourists we vote with our money - the more we turn toward ethical experiences, the more we help change the world we live in, and the better we can feel about engaging in sustainable tourism. It is OUR responsibility.