WHY ELEPHANTS WEEP: Cruel elephant training process ‘the crush’ exposed
The video exposes the physical and psychological trauma of elephant training for tourist entertainment. A lifetime of horror for a once-in-a-lifetime holiday experience.
WORLD ANIMAL PROTECTION: Shocking unseen footage shows parts of the cruel training process that young elephants endure to make them submissive enough to interact with tourists, such as giving rides and performing in shows… This undercover video exposes the hidden reality of the physical and psychological trauma of elephant training for tourist entertainment – a lifetime of horror for a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday experience.
There are approximately 2,800 captive elephants exploited in camps across Thailand who have undergone this cruel training. The harrowing footage was captured to document the most common practices used to break the elephants’ spirits, which is done using a range of techniques, including: the use of a bull-hook – a metal tool used to jab sensitive areas, chains to restrain them, frequent exposure to stressful situations…
This horrific treatment of elephants is to make them submissive enough to be used for performing, riding, bathing, and other tourist interactions. The demand from tourism drives the demand for elephant experiences, and trainers are forced to deploy these methods…
With the industry coming to a complete standstill during the pandemic, at least 85 elephant camps in Thailand were forced to close, laying off over 5,000 staff. The remaining camps are still struggling to look after their elephants. Many elephants have had to trek miles across the country by foot back to where their legal owners live. Some have been allowed to roam freely to forage under supervision as their keepers have struggled to feed them. Sadly, for some elephants, they have been transferred to the logging industry for hard labour…
Audrey Mealia, our global head of wildlife said: “We are at a turning point when it comes to our relationship with wild animals”. The tourism industry has come to a halt in the wake of COVID-19 but it will re-build – this is the ideal opportunity to build a better future. We are calling on the tourism industry to revise their wildlife policies and stop offering exploitative experiences to their customers”…
The exploitation of captive elephants in tourism is just one part of the cruel global wildlife trade, which is inflicting suffering on millions of animals, harming our health through exposure to pandemics and damaging our fragile ecosystems. For a better future for animals, people and planet, all wildlife trade must end. You can help make this a reality by signing our petition to the G20. SOURCE…
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