10 Ultimate disadvantages when visiting elephant sanctuaries in Thailand
While these places sound like a beautiful part of Thailand’s tourism and culture. There are many disadvantages when visiting elephant sanctuaries. Imposing this idea that ALL elephant sanctuaries aim to provide a more ethical environment for elephants, can cause misinformed tourists to support even more unethical practices. Traditional tourist attractions like elephant riding or performances, are a lot worse and are decreasing in attendance due to sanctuaries becoming the new and “improved” tourist attractions. However, there are still some disadvantages or issues associated with visiting these sanctuaries.
Unfortunately, many elephants are being exploited for money. Yes, they are in better conditions than those who are treated like circus animals. However, there is still damage being made and with tourism thriving in Thailand like ever before, these sanctuaries can become much more stressful for the elephants. Unfortunately, for many of the tourists visiting, they believe what they are doing is a good thing, however, in some cases, they are causing more harm than good.
That is why, it is crucial to understand the disadvantages when visiting elephant sanctuaries.
What is an elephant sanctuary?
Elephant Sanctuaries are known to be a safe haven for abused and mistreated elephants. They are built to help elephants that have been domesticated and can no longer live in the wild.
Many sanctuaries can spend around 60,000 USD, which equates to 2,000,000 Thai Bhat on each elephant they save. Unfortunately, there are too many elephants who have experienced heinous and detestable conditions and now struggle to trust anyone, due to their trauma.
Usually, in sanctuaries elephants are given a “mahout” which is a life-long caretaker, so that they are being looked after appropriately and promptly.
This means that the mahout lives near the elephant, usually within the sanctuaries with their families. Worse case, if the mahout sadly passes on, the responsibility will be passed down to their family. With the mahout protecting these elephants every day, they can now enjoy the remaining years of their life happy and sociable. As it should be.
How to spot Elephant Mistreatment:
Riding:
It is unnatural for elephants to be ridden, especially on a daily basis. Riding elephants also distresses them and causes mental and physical issues.
Performances:
Training an elephant takes a lot of work. They are not inherently obedient animals. They are sociable and independent. Therefore, many people will hit and jab them, so they become more subservient.
Chained and/or Caged:
Elephants are large mammals and need to have freedom to roam around and do what they want. However, they are chained and caged to keep them contained and obedient. The people creating these places are not professionals, so their decisions are not based on the elephants’ well-being, but on themselves.
Elephant Breeding:
Breeding in captivity causes a couple of issues.
One– It is very difficult to breed elephants. Elephants, like many mammals, do not thrive in captivity. The interaction between human and elephant then becomes very distressing for both parties.
Two– It takes attention away from the elephants that need to be saved or cared for. If a sanctuary is putting a lot of their money towards breeding newborn elephants, it can take attention away from elephants that need urgent help and care.
No Contact restrictions (such as feeding, petting, bathing, taking photos):
Elephants are independent animals. In these cases they are domesticated, however, they still need to do basic tasks, like bathing and feeding on their own. Or by their mahout. Their mahout should really be the only one doing these things.
Very small environment:
Elephants need huge spaces to eat, sleep, roam around, and play. They should be able to do these things without heavy bodily restrictions.
No mission transparency:
When a sanctuary is not transparent about what their values are, it makes it very hard to understand their intentions and what the “sanctuary” is actually built for.
Nowhere to donate:
There should be a donation option to help the elephants. I know it sounds strange that people not asking for money is a red flag. However, in this circumstance it is.
It could mean they are probably creating programs, such as wedding events, photos, bathing, and full immersive unethical experiences that essentially pay for everything, so they do not necessarily need any donations.
What were their conditions prior?
In 1950, there were around 50,000 elephants, but due to deforestation, abuse, and poaching, that has now unfortunately decreased to 3,500.
These conditions consist of hitting them and jabbing them with sharp objects so that they can perform for tourists.
The elephants were also chained, leading to infections, isolation, and serious emotional distress. Usually rocking back and forth is a sign of severe mental health issues in elephants.
These elephants were also forced to breed in captivity, experiencing from birth, these terrorizing conditions.
Disadvantages when visiting Elephant Sanctuaries:
Animal Exploitation:
Not all sanctuaries may follow ethical practices despite claiming to be elephant-friendly. Some may still engage in practices that can be harmful to elephants, such as chaining them, allowing excessive interaction with tourists, or breeding for tourism purposes.
Even though these sanctuaries are in the wrong, tourists’ demand for these attractions and events are why they keep pursuing them. Once we stop expecting and committing our finances to unethical practices, we may see a huge change in not just animal exploitation, but the tourism industry in general.
And with many travellers and tourists opting for more sustainable experiences, more ethical sanctuaries will start to permeate because of our demand for them. Other reasons would be how it is culturally and religiously disrespectful to Thai communities.
Unfortunately, however, too many people are struggling financially and will compromise their culture and traditions to make a decent living. It’s very unfortunate. That it is why us visitors need to be more mindful and give back as much as possible.
Health and Safety Risks:
As stated previously, a part of elephant exploitation is ‘excessive interaction.’ This can include taking photos, bathing, feeding, petting. Even if we are being gentle with them, it can still pose as harmful. Elephants should only be bathing when they want/need to, not every time people decide to visit. Feeding them also makes them more reliant. Yes, they are technically domesticated, but they should still have their own independence.
Close proximity to elephants can also pose safety risks, especially if visitors are not adequately briefed on safety measures and proper behaviour around the animals. Elephants, while mostly gentle, can be unpredictable.
Over-tourism Impact:
The surge in popularity of elephant sanctuaries has led to over-tourism in some places. This increased footfall can put stress on the elephants and their environment, affecting their well-being. Making sure you are choosing a sanctuary that limits time in close proximity to elephants and does not provide services every day is what you should be looking for.
Environmental impact:
Some sanctuaries may market themselves as “ethical” or “rescue” centers but may not actually adhere to proper standards of elephant care and conservation. This can mislead tourists who are genuinely seeking to support ethical treatment of elephants. Make sure at the very least they are accredited and are using their money to curate a perfect environment for the elephants.
Limited Educational Value:
While some sanctuaries offer educational tours explaining elephant behaviour and conservation efforts, others might prioritize photo opportunities and hands-on experiences over educational content. Therefore leaving visitors with limited understanding of the animals and their needs. This is crucial when investing in animal tourism, as I feel the best way to learn and educate yourself is to visit these parks.
Financial Exploitation:
Some sanctuaries might prioritize profit over elephant welfare, leading to inadequate care or overcrowding of elephants to accommodate more tourists, impacting the animals’ quality of life. This can lead to breeding, so they can produce more elephants and therefore produce more money.
Cultural Insensitivity:
Sanctuaries that focus solely on tourist interactions may overlook the cultural and historical significance of elephants in Thailand, reducing them to mere attractions for entertainment purposes. These elephants should solely be an investment in preserving and educating. Making money the priority may recreate the same unethical practices we saved the elephants from in the first place.
3 examples of places you should avoid:
- Elephant Mahout Project, Pattaya
- Elephant Jungle Sanctuary (EJS)
- Elephant Stay, Royal Elephant Kraal Village, Ayutthaya
3 examples that are ethical:
When planning to visit an elephant sanctuary, it’s crucial to research and choose a reputable and genuinely ethical sanctuary that prioritizes the well-being of the animals. Look for places that provide proper care, emphasize education, limit direct interactions with elephants, and support conservation efforts. Additionally, seeking recommendations from reliable sources or ethical travel organizations can help ensure a more responsible and fulfilling experience. This will also allow you to understand the disadvantages when visiting elephant sanctuaries and then take action.
