Heartbreaking: This is What Years of Tourist Rides Do To an Elephant

A heartbreaking photo shared by Wildlife Friends Foundation in Thailand (WFFT) shows a 71-year-old female elephant whose spine has been disfigured after working 25 years in the tourism industry.

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The elephant Pai Lin was forced to carry up to six tourists at a time during her long quarter of a century in the cruel tourism industry in Thailand.

“Did you know that elephant riding causes physical damage to these gentle giants?” the group wrote on Instagram.

Riding elephants is a popular tourist activity in Asia but is incredibly cruel for several reasons. Firstly, the process of domesticating elephants can be cruel and abusive, involving physical punishment, deprivation of food and water, and social isolation. Elephants are social animals, and separating them from their families can cause significant distress and trauma. The chairs or howdahs used to carry tourists are often heavy and poorly designed, which can cause pain and discomfort to the elephants. The weight of the chair, combined with the weight of the passengers, can also cause stress and injury to the elephant’s spine and legs, which can eventually lead to a disfigured spine like Pai Lin.

Elephants used for tourism are often overworked and forced to work long hours in extreme heat without adequate food, water, or rest. This can lead to exhaustion, dehydration, and heatstroke, which can be fatal. The tourist industry often prioritizes profit over the well-being of the elephants, leading to neglect of their health and welfare.

“Pai Lin arrived at our sanctuary in 2006 after working in the Thai tourism industry,” Edwin Wiek, director and founder of the WFFT, told CNN.

“She was given up by her previous owner who felt that she was too slow and always in pain and couldn’t work well anymore,” he added.

The group is sharing Pai Lin’s story to help raise awareness about elephant cruelty. Luckily, she will now live out the rest of her days at a sanctuary with 24 other rescued elephants.

“She’s fatter than when she first came to us,” Wiek said. “But you can see the shape of her spine very clearly – it’s a physical deformity she will have to live with, but she’s doing well.”

If you want to help elephants, the first most effective thing you can do is to never ride an elephant. Tell your friends and family members about the cruelty behind these rides and urge them to steer clear of them. If you want to see elephants, visit a professional elephant sanctuary, where elephants live in a natural environment.

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