Thailand: Tourist dies at elephant camp

In response to the death of a Spanish holidaymaker at an elephant camp in Thailand, animal welfare advocates are sharply criticising the popular facilities.

The animal fatally injured the 22-year-old student on Friday on Koh Yao Yai, an island in the south of the country.

The tragic incident is a stark reminder of the cruelty and danger associated with the captivity of wild animals, warns the animal rights organisation IG Wild beim Wild.

Wild animals are forced to interact with humans

«Elephants are highly intelligent, sensitive beings that suffer enormously in unnatural environments where they are forced to interact with humans.» This was stated by Jason Baker, Vice President of International Campaigns at PETA Asia.

According to reports, the elephant is said to have struck the tourist with its trunk. The accident occurred before the eyes of her boyfriend and other tourists as she was bathing with the elephant — one of the highlights of visits to such centers.

Camps are important sources of revenue

Several thousand domesticated elephants live in Thailand alongside their mahouts (elephant handlers). In many cases, these are by no means elephant rescue centers, but rather much more akin to zoos. The animals are also specifically bred and sold between zoos; it is often simply about profit.

In recent years, the widely criticized exploitation of animals for tourist riding tours has admittedly declined significantly.

Instead, countless elephant camps — mostly advertised as rescue centers for saved animals — offer supposedly animal-friendly encounters with Thailand’s national animal.

The facilities are a major source of tourist revenue, as close contact with the pachyderms tops the wish list of many travellers to Thailand.

And they are willing to pay for it. Half-day tours typically cost at least 60 euros. In Switzerland, too, wild animals are exploited in zoos and enclosures for profit.

Between animal welfare and the greed for profit

In return, visitors are allowed to feed the animals, walk with them through the camp. And often take a mud bath together in rivers or ponds.

However, there are major differences: While some centers focus on animal welfare others are primarily about money.

The message to the public is to stay away from all facilities where direct contact with elephants is possible.

«Genuine sanctuaries only offer observation tours and keep visitors at a reasonable distance from the elephants. So as not to disturb the animals — or put visitors in danger.»

Further articles

• Zoos cause more harm to animals than you may realise
• Justice for zoo animals
• Is it time to ban zoos?
• Finland: Zoo wants to send giant pandas back to China due to maintenance costs
• The keeping of elephants in zoos must finally come to an end!
• Killing surplus animals — zoos are failing at species conservation