Elephant riding is on almost everyone’s travel bucket list. We all love elephants, so why wouldn’t we want to ride one as the ultimate Thailand experience?
Just before you jump on, here are the seven dirty secrets you need to know…
1. Wild elephants won’t let humans ride them
Myself elephant riding before I knew what they went through. Left: Krabi, 2008. Right: Khao Lak, 2014.
All wild animals need to be trained before they will perform for humans. But elephant training is particularly brutal.
The ancient tradition is called the Phajaan. It translates as ‘the breaking of the spirit.’
2. They have to be trained as babies
Calves are so young when they enter the Phajaan they’re still suckling from their mothers.
Mothers and calves need to be forcibly separated. They’ll cry out for each other for weeks, but they will never be reunited.
3. There’s a reason it’s nicknamed ‘The Crush’
A key part of the Phajaan is a tiny pen. Calves are tied in tightly. Fixed in a standing position. They are unable to walk, sit, lie down or move in anyway.
They will remain here for up to a week. Starved of food and sleep.
4. Torture will continue until the spirit breaks
The pen alone is not enough to break an elephant’s wild spirit.
They will be beaten, burned and stabbed. Any object can be turned into a weapon. Bullhooks and a bamboo stick with a nail through it are popular choices. Targeting the most sensitive areas: inner ears, trunks and behind their ears.
5. Not all babies spirits can be broken
Half of the calves who go into the Phajaan can’t survive it.
The other half eventually break. Bloodied and broken they are simply terrified of more pain. And will do absolutely anything to avoid it.
They begin to perform tasks without resistance. One of the first is accepting someone sitting on their back.
6. Bullhooks are key to controlling elephants
Left: bullhook in a zoo. Right: Ringling Circus version of the Phajaan in the US with a bullhook.
If you’ve been elephant riding you will have seen them. Or even in some zoos.
Discrete jabs in a sensitive areas is a sharp reminder of the Phajaan. Just having one in sight of an elephant is an intimidating threat.
If you can see bullhooks, you know the elephant has been through the Phajaan (or a western version of it).
7. Elephant backs aren’t strong enough to carry humans
Horses have rounded vertebrae joints. This means they can distribute weight along the spinal column. By comparison elephant’s vertebrae have tight joints and protrude upwards, so they struggle to distribute weight as well.
In plain English: the gaps along their spine makes carrying weight painful.
Some argue elephant’s necks are strong enough to support one person. But the weight of a bench and multiple tourists on their back is crippling.
Join the ethical elephant tourism movement! ??
Baby elephants don’t deserve this.
As you can see in the video, a lot of mahouts are cruel to their elephants. But there is a growing trend of loving mahouts.
For example Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai refuses to use bullhooks, and allows elephants to wander free.
A female mahout guiding her blind elephant by the ear in Kanchanaburi
I met this awe-inspiring mahout in Kanchanaburi. She wouldn’t let her blind elephant get involved with tourists. She also refused to use a bullhook.
Instead she gently guided around her by the ear, talking and singing to it all the time. No bullhook needed.
Bullhooks, riding and aggressive mahouts are not necessary anymore.
Put an ethical elephant experience on your bucket list instead ??
THE ELEPHANT CAMPS TO AVOID
We’ve named & shamed the guilty elephant riding camps, so you know where to avoid…
Thailand
Ayutthaya
– Ayothaya Elephant Village
– Ayutthaya Elephant Palace
– Ayothaya Floating Market & Elephant Village
– Elephantstay
Bangkok
– Bangkok Asia Travel
– Bangkok Day Tours Co. Ltd.
– Chang Puak Camp
– Elephant Theme Show
– Extraordinary Elephant Day Trip
– Nok Thai Tour
– Safari World
– Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo
– Siam Niramit
Chaing Mai
– Amazing Trekking Tour
– Baan Chang Elephant Park
– Blue Elephant Thailand Tours
– Chan Trekking Tour
– Chang Erawan Tour
– Chang Siam Chiangmai-Day Tours
– Chiang Mai a la Carte
– Chiang Mai Elephants Tours
– Chiang Mai Zoo
– Chiangmai Jungle Trekking
– Chiangmai Mahout Training Centre
– Chiangmai Meesuk Tours
– Chiangmai Trekking by Piroon
– Chokchai Tour Chiang Mai
– Deedee’s Elephant Adventures
– Earth Eco Tour
– Elephant Discovery Chiang Mai
– Elephant Home
– Elephant Nature Lovers Park
– Elephant Special Tours
– Mae Malai Elephant Training Camp
– Maetaman Elephant Camp
– Maetang Elephant Park
– Magical Elephant Training
– Mundo Thailand Day Tours
– Next Step Thailand (Travel with Joe)
– Pagoda View Tours Thailand
– Panda Tour & Trekking
– Patara Elephant Farm
– Patara Elephant farm
– Phutawan Elephant Camp
– Pon Chiang Mai Private Tours
– Ran-Tong (Save and Rescue Elephant Centre)
– Royal Bella Vista Country Club
– SAWASDEECHIANGMAI – Day Tours
– Something Different Day Tours
– Thai Elephant Conservation Center
– The Peak Adventure
– Trekking Chiang Mai
– Trekking Collective Co
– Untouched Thailand
– Wandering Star Tour
– Water Runner – Private Day Tours
– Woody’s Elephant Guesthouse
– Yogi Mahout
Chiang Saen
– Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Chonburi Province
– Khao Kheow Open Zoo
Damnoen Saduak
– Damnoen Saduak Elephant Village
Hua Hin
– Elephant Village
– Hua Hin Hills Vineyard
– Hua Hin Safari
– Huahin Adventure Tour
– Hutsadin Elephant Foundation
Kamala
– Pang Chang Kamala
Kanchanaburi
– Good Times Travel
– Mahawangchang Elephant Camp
– Mellow Adventures
– Safari Park Open Zoo
– Somnuk Elephant Camp
– Taweechai Elephant Camp
– Thailand Attraction Tours
– Wangpo Elephant Camp
Kathu
– Seaview Elephant Camp
Khao Lak
– Green Andaman Travel
– Khao Lak Land Discovery
– Khao Lak Safari Tour
– Khaolak Vista Tours and Travel
– Mr. Moo Khao-Lak Tour
Khao Yai
– Khao Yai and Beyond
Khao Sok
– Phuket Trekking Club
Ko Samui
– Bophut Elephant Camp
– Funny Day Safari
– Island Safari Tours
– Mr Ung’s Magical Safari
– Na Muang Waterfall Animal Shows
– Namuang Safari Park
Ko Chang
– Ban Chang Thai – Elephant Camp
– Ban Kwan Chan
– Ban Kwan Chang
Ko Lanta
– Khlong Chak Waterfall
Krabi
– Huai To Waterfall
– Khao Phanom Bencha National Park
– Krabitrek Day Tours
– Nosey Parker’s Elephant Camp
Mae Taeng
– Baanchang Elephant’s Paradise
– Eddy Elephant
– Elephant Life Experience
– Lisu Lodge
– Maetaeng Elephant Park
– Thai Elephant Home
– Woody Elephant Training
Mae Wang
– Dee Dee’s Elephant Adventures
– Gachorgwa Elephant Camp
– Mae Wang Elephant Camp
– Spicy Villa Ecolodge
– The Chai Lai Orchid
Pai
– Thai Twin Tours
– Thom’s Pai Elephant Camp
Pattaya
– Chang Thai Thappraya Safari
– Elephant Village Pattaya
Tourists report mahouts selling elephant ivory and teeth
– Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm
– Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden
– Sanctuary of Truth (Prasat Sut Ja-Tum)
Khao Sok
– Phuket Trekking Club
Phang Nga
– Phangnga ATV Adventure
Phitsanulok
– Sappraiwan Grand Hotel & Resort
Phuket
– Amazing Bukit Safari
– Anda Adventure – Day Tours
– AT Hill Adventure Tours
– ATV Phuket Tours
– Bang Pae Safari
– Best Rafting 4U
– Camp Chang Kalim
– Island Safari
– Kapong Tubing Nature Tour
– Khao Lak Nature Tour
– Khaosok Discovery
– Kok Chang Safari Elephant Trekking
– Mr. Not Phuket Exotic Tour
– Phuchada Safari
– Phuket ATV Adventure
– Phuket Big Buddha
– Phuket FantaSea
– Phuket Sealand Co – Day Tours
– Siam Niramit
– Siam Safari
– Sutin Group
– Tri Trang Beach
Rawai
– Kinnaree Elephant Trekking Tours
Sai Yok
– Elephant Haven
– Muang Sing Elephant Village
– River Kwai Jungle Rafts
– Saiyok Elephant Park
Sam Phran
– Sampran Riverside
Surat Thani
– Limestone Lake Rainforest Day Tours
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Baan Chang Elephant Park elephant with visible bull hook scars and markings. ?: 100 Ways To Change The World
THE ELEPHANT CIRCUSES TO AVOID
A named & shamed list of elephant circuses to avoid!
Even crueller than elephant trekking. After rides elephants are forced to put on a show. Riding bikes, painting, handstands. None of this is possible without intimidation and bull hooks…
Thailand
Ayutthaya
– Ayothaya Elephant Village
– Ayutthaya Elephant Palace
Bangkok
– Elephant Theme Show
– Samphran Elephant Theme Show
– Samphran Elephant Ground and Zoo
– Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo
– Safari World
– Siam Niramit
Chaing Mai
– Blue Elephant Thailand Tours
– Chokchai Tour Chiang Mai
– Thai Elephant Conservation Center
Hua Hin
– Hua Hin Safari
– Hutsadin Elephant Foundation
Kathu
– Seaview Elephant Camp
Kanchanaburi
– Safari Park Open Zoo
– Somnuk Elephant Camp
– Taweechai Elephant Camp
Ko Samui
– Funny Day Safari – Bophut Elephant Camp
– Island Safari Tours
– Mr Ung’s Magical Safari
– Na Muang Waterfall Animal Shows
Krabi
– Nosey Parker’s Elephant Camp
Mae Rim
– Maesa Elephant Camp
– Maetaman Elephant Camp
Mae Taeng
– Elephant Life Experience
Pattaya
– Elephant Village Pattaya
Tourists report mahouts selling elephant ivory and teeth
– Chang Thai Thappraya Safari
– Million Years Stone Park & Pattaya Crocodile Farm
– Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden
Phuket
– Amazing Bukit Safari
– Anda Adventure – Day Tours
– AT Hill Adventure Tours
– Island Safari
– Kok Chang Safari Elephant Trekking
– Phuchada Safari
– Phuket FantaSea
– Siam Safari
Rawai
– Kinnaree Elephant Trekking Tours
Sai Yok
– Muang Sing Elephant Village
– Saiyok Elephant Park
Surin
– Elephant Study Centre Surin
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Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden Elephant Show
THE FAKE ELEPHANT SANCTUARIES
A named & shamed list of fake sanctuaries to avoid!
Deceptive elephant camps. They wash elephants rather than ride them and claim to care for them. But the elephants are not allowed to roam free, they’re forcibly moved from one activity to the next. They also still perform little circus tricks. Like spraying water, lifting or hugging tourists with their trunks or ‘elephant kisses’ sucking tourists faces with their trunks.
As long as there are chains, bull hooks and intimidation the elephants are not free…
Thailand
Chaing Mai
– Chang Thai Heritage
– Chiang Mai Elephant Care
– Chiangmai Elephant Sanctuary
– Dumbo Elephant Spa
– Elephant Carer Home
– Elephant Dream Valley
– Elephant Family Sanctuary
– Elephant Jungle Paradise Park
– Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
– Elephant Rescue Park
– Elephant Retirement Park
– Happy Elephant Home
– Hug Elephant Sanctuary
– Jumbo Elephant Camp Day Tour
– Karen Elephant Family
– Karen’s Tribe Native Elephants
– Loolu Tour
– Siam River Adventures
Chiang Saen
– Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort
Kanchanaburi
– ElephantsWorld
Mae Wang
– Tong Bai Elephant Tour
Pak Phli
– Khao Yai National Park
Wild elephant watching, but also offers rides on their less forntunate captive cousins.
Phang Nga
– Phang Nga Elephant Park
Surin
Save Elephant Foundation – Surin Project
Sri Lanka
Pinnawala
– Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage
[/wpex]
Surin Project elephant commanded to lift a tourist with its trunk. Calf tied up at Chang Thai Heritage. And Elephant Dream Valley elephant commanded to pose for photos.
YOU CAN HELP END ELEPHANT ABUSE
The solution to all this animal cruelty is simple. Boycott elephant trekking and choose kind alternatives.
The difficult part is getting the message out so loud that it shatters Thailand’s tourists favourite activity.
Step 1: Share to raise awareness.
Step 2: Subscribe to become a travel rebel & stay in the know!
Step 3: Go on an ethical trip with elephants:
Want to be a more responsible traveler?
Tiny changes can make a huge difference
Tips to help both animals and people
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