With so many people flocking to Thailand for elephant rides, it’s become an issue for animal rights advocates. Elephants are highly intelligent animals, able to think and act for themselves. But in Thailand, they are treated like animals. In fact, the Thai government, which touts itself as a haven for tourists, even banned elephant rides last year. The ban was short-lived, however, as commercial elephant rides still continued in other parts of the country.

Elephant orphanages in Thailand are big businesses. The elephants in the care at these establishments are captured from the wild and separated from their mothers when they are just a few years old. Many elephants live at a facility their whole lives. In captivity, they are deprived of their natural behaviors, including the ability to form bonds with other elephants and humans. These elephants are manipulated and trained to perform tricks for tourists. Many of them stand chained or tied to a tree all day or tied to the sides of the tour buses.

Here are some reasons why you shouldn’t ride elephants in Thailand:

Because Of The Cruel Training

In Thailand, elephant trekking is big business, and tourists are flocking to the Land of Smiles to try their luck with elephants—a tradition the Thais take very seriously. And while elephant riding is a natural draw for tourists, the practice has become controversial among animal welfare experts.

Riding an elephant in Thailand may sound like a great, once-in-a-lifetime experience. But after spending some time researching elephant camps, we found some disturbing things. According to Animal Defenders International (ADI), 90% of elephant camps in Thailand are cruel. They are routinely beaten, electrocuted, and chained up, and some are even kept inside small metal cages. A captive elephant must eat up to 100 pounds of sugarcane per day, and it can only stand for 40 minutes before having to take a 12-hour rest.

Deprived Of A Natural Life

Elephants are big and majestic, and they love to eat. The elephant population in Thailand is growing rapidly as tourists bring money into the country, so they are eating more and more. In order to keep their numbers down, the Thai government has formed an elephant conservation project. But they are being denied their ability to roam freely.

Elephants in Thailand have suffered immeasurably under cruel working conditions. Elephants used in tourism have been trained to perform unnatural tricks to entertain visitors. Detained in the wild, they have been left in tiny cages and forced to breed. These inhumane practices have led to a massive decline in elephant populations. The Asian Elephant Foundation is working to protect elephants and educate the public about their plight.

Riders Might Die

If you’re thinking of visiting Thailand, you probably already know there are elephants to ride. However, they may not realize elephants in Thailand face a terrible fate. The Thai government says “there are no elephant riding camps in Thailand,”—but this is untrue. In reality, there are dozens of elephant riding camps in Thailand, and tourists pay to “ride” these gentle giants. But why do people ride elephants anyway?

A Thailand elephant riding tour might sound idyllic, but many travelers end up being horrified to learn just how cruel they are. They are chained up, beaten, and abused, and many even die as a result of the mistreatment. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Nonetheless, many travelers who pay to ride elephants for a once-in-a-lifetime experience are astounded by the way they treat these animals and may feel helpless and hopeless to do anything to help them.

For years, Thailand has rightfully claimed the title of “Land of Smiles,” thanks in part to the endless hours of tourists and travelers enjoying the country’s beautiful beaches, breathtaking scenery, unique culture, and, of course, elephants. But like every tourist destination, the Land of Smiles has its share of problems, one of which is the mistreatment of elephants. Sadly, tourist operators in Thailand continue to treat them as servants rather than as sentient creatures who are capable of suffering.

What Should You Do Except Ride Elephants in Thailand?

If you are into animals, Thailand has tons of them. When you are riding elephants, the animals might bite or scratch you, so there are rules. First of all, if you are pregnant, you should not do this ride. That’s for elephant welfare. Second, you should not feed them any food. (They might munch on it, and that would ruin their teeth). Third, you should not throw anything at them. Fourth, if you are afraid of heights or riding an elephant, you should not do this ride.

Most people think that the journey through Thailand begins as soon as you step foot into the country. What many don’t realize is that the most important part of the journey starts before you leave. Since Thailand is such a large country, there are many directions from which to travel. Most people start their trip in the capital city of Bangkok. However, there are plenty of great spots to visit here, like the Grand Palace, Wat Pho, and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

What makes Thailand so unique, however, are the activities it has to offer. If you are interested in taking a trip to Thailand, it is important to do some research beforehand. One of the best ways to plan a trip to Thailand is by consulting a travel agency.