Elephant rides are appealing to tourists and visitors but there is a dark side to elephant tourism that people are not aware of. Taming a wild elephant involves ripping baby elephants away from their mothers and squeezing them into a small space, where movement is severely restricted.
These intelligent animals are then repeatedly tortured to break their mind, body and spirit. This involves repeated beatings and stabbings with bull hooks, to starving and deprivation of sleep for days. Scars and injuries from bull hooks and chains are often visible.
These abuses suffered by the elephants have prompted international animal groups and celebrities to voice their opposition to elephant tourism. The renowned French animal activist Brigitte Bardot has even written to the Malaysian environment minister to release Lasah, a 37-year-old elephant used for rides in Langkawi, to an elephant sanctuary.
Elephants are not designed for carrying people on their backs all day which can lead to permanent spinal injuries.
The chair, or howdah, on the elephant’s back can cause injury due to the constant rubbing by the contraption causing blisters that can get infected. Constant walking causes wear and tear on the elephants’ feet, infections and chronic joint problems.