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How to have an ethical wildlife experience in Thailand

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PHOTOGRAPHS OF TRAVELERS posing with wildlife on a trip to Thailand are often looked at in awe by friends and family back home. After all, it’s not every day that you get the chance to be in such close proximity to an exotic elephant or tiger. Regrettably, though, things are not always as they seem — it would be a divine miracle if you lived to tell the tale should you ever encounter a tiger in the wild. A lot has been made of these excursions over the last few years, including activists citing animal cruelty and making public stands against inhumane wildlife excursions. Today more than ever, it is vital that tourists are not visiting — and therefore not funding — the more sinister side of wildlife tourism in Thailand. It is totally possible to see these animals up close and in a secure and healthy environment. Here’s how to do it.

Never ride an elephant

One needs only to look at how popular elephant riding excursions became to see how their owners are experts at marketing to tourists. What happened behind the scenes remained hidden, though in recent years — thanks in part to the efforts of conservationists and travel writers who took the time to look beyond the brochure — people have begun to realize how disgusting elephant riding is. Elephants do not naturally allow people to hop on their backs. The selling point was that elephant riding happens only if the animal allows, making the excursion sound exciting and somewhat humane and perhaps even an opportunity to form a friendship with a magnificent creature. In actuality, the elephants are forced into allowing visitors to ride them through tortured conditioning that begins early on in their life. This is called the phajaan (meaning “to crush”) process, seeking to crush the spirit of the animal.

Once this became common knowledge, many operations ceased and were replaced with Elephant sanctuaries marketed as a safe haven for formerly mistreated elephants. This is precisely why it is vital to do some research before taking part in any wildlife experience — visiting an elephant sanctuary is one thing. Sanctuaries where elephants can live and roam are your best option for viewing elephants in their natural habitat. Responsible Travel, a site that vets ethical travel experiences, cites several ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand, including Elephant Nature Park in Kuet Chang and Elephant Valley in Chang Rai. In Kanchanaburi, you can visit Elephants World and work with old and ill elephants who are allowed to roam freely in a protected environment. You’ll be able to provide genuine help and care, and while it is such a shame that their mistreatment has made this necessary, this is the harsh reality.

In general, beware of any that offer shows or activities specifically involving live elephants, and of course, don’t hop on top of one. When it comes to elephant riding, there is not an ethical option.

Avoid personal experiences with tigers

The case of Thailand’s tigers can be slightly more complex. Prior to being raided by the country’s Department of National Parks in 2016, the Tiger Temple in Kanchanaburi was marketed as the only place you could observe monks and tigers living side by side. For an extra fee, you could even feed the cubs and take the adults for walks. Speculation had circled surrounding how and why these wild animals knowingly allowed humans to touch and hug them, with suggestions that the tigers were under heavy sedation being a major concern. During a raid, 147 tigers were removed from the ‘temple,’ while the bodies of more than three dozen deceased tiger cubs were found in freezers across the property. Also discovered was jewelry made from tiger skins, which were given to tourists making an additional donation.

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