Baby elephants chained and bothered after hours and hours of mistreatment to become docile with tourists. Shocking footage denounces horrific practices
Baby elephants chained and bothered after hours and hours of mistreatment to become docile with tourists. Shocking videos those released by the World Animal Protection association that denounce the cruel training of these pachyderms, known as crushing.
Torn from their mothers, these elephants are tied with ropes, tightened between poles and cages to train them to be tamed and to get in touch with tourists. Animals deprived of their freedom and their nature, used to be ridden and take tourists visiting Thailand for a walk.
For years, we have been talking about this horror, yet with the restrictions given by Covid-19, many elephants had been moved to sanctuaries. But evidently, not even the collapse of tourism is leading to a real change. What these images tell is terrible: animals abused to become tame, to be submissive and interact with tourists.
An undercover video that not only refers us to the physical violence that pachyderms suffer, but also to their psychological trauma. A life of horror.
According to World Animal Protection, about 2800 elephants in captivity are exploited throughout Thailand and have undergone this cruel training. In the harrowing footage you can see the most common practices including: the use of a bullhook, a metal tool used to hit sensitive areas, large chains to stop its legs, frequent exposure to stressful situations. Thus the majestic elephants become animals with which to bathe, who play with a ball, which allow themselves to be caressed. They perform, are photographed, filmed.
“Tourism came to a complete halt during the pandemic, at least 85 elephant-holding facilities in Thailand were forced to close, laying off more than 5 employees. But the others are open ”, writes the organization.
** ATTENTION THESE VIDEOS CONTAIN IMAGES THAT COULD IMPACT YOUR SENSITIVITY **
Many elephants had to travel miles and miles, some were allowed to roam freely in forage, others became pack animals. With a petition, the animal rights organization calls for this market to close forever and as a sustainable and long-term solution, it calls for a ban on captive breeding for elephants to ensure that future generations are spared this trauma.
"Tourists also hold considerable power to turn their backs on unethical practices and can instead opt to see elephants in their natural habitat or support suitable elephant sanctuaries," it reads.
All captive elephants in tourism go through this brutal training
⚠️Warning: distressing content EVERY ELEPHANT in captivity at tourist venues has gone through ‘the crush’. ??This cruel industry is part of the global wildlife trade. Help end it by signing our petition now: http://ow.ly/Aw6330qSor8 #EndWildlifeTrade
Posted by World Animal Protection on Monday, June 22, 2020
For most elephants, being released into the wild isn't possible, so a sanctuary is the best option.
“The tourism industry has stopped following COVID-19, but it will rebuild: this is the ideal opportunity for a better future. We are calling on the tourism industry to review their wildlife policies and stop offering exploitative experiences to their customers, ”says Audrey Mealia of World Animal Protection.
The exploitation of captive elephants in tourism is only part of the cruel world trade in wildlife, which is causing suffering to millions of animals, putting our health at risk through exposure to pandemics and damaging our fragile ecosystems.
SIGN THE PETITION HERE
Fonte: World Animal Protection
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