According to a report by BBC, Thailand uses roughly twice as many elephants in tourism as compared to all other countries in the world. A large number of them are captured from the wild and subjected to torture.
While unregulated elephant tourism continues all around the world, a recent incident from Thailand brings to light the abuse and torture baby elephants are subjected to.
In an upsetting video, an exhausted baby elephant can be seen collapsing at a tourist attraction.
According to a report by Daily Mail, the animal which is believed to be around a year old, was tied to its mother’s neck with a rope.
The video, captured by a Filipino tourist, showed the young animal rolling on the ground apparently due to fatigue. This time of year is the hottest in Thailand, with temperatures peaking at around 40 degrees.
The tourist was quoted as saying:
“There are many more baby elephants tied with their mother walking around with tourists at their backs enjoying under the heat of the sun while these elephants are suffering.”
She further added:
“This one baby elephant was so exhausted, and you can see the mother comforting and encouraging her to stand.”
While the spokesperson for Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens denied any allegations of animal abuse, a surge in elephant tourism has fueled cruelty towards these animals.
People on the Internet were heartbroken to see this video with many pledging not to ride elephants in future.
This torture and cruelty in the name of entertainment needs to stop.