Phuket elephant rides in the sea given all clear

[webfact]

Phuket elephant rides in the sea given all clear

By Waranya Prompinpiras

 

DMCR officials inspected the elephant ride operation on Wedesday (May 15). Photo: DMCR

 

PHUKET: An elephant ride operation at Tri Trang Beach, south of Patong, has been given the all clear to continue despite an outpouring of comments online calling for officials to investigate amid concerns that the elephants were destroying corals near the beach by treading on them.

 

Officials from the Phuket office of the Deprtament of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) inspected the operation on Wednesday, Phuket DMCR Chief Watcharin Thintalang confirmed yesterday (May 16).

 

“Officers checked and found that the elephants were not damaging the corals there as the reef is about 40 meters from where elephants walk in the sea,” he said.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-elephant-rides-in-the-sea-given-all-clear-71460.php#PoM6flTYRTdHQdMp.99

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2019-05-17

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[toenail]

Riding elephants or watching elephants do tricks is outdated entertainment. Elephants face abuse in order to be trained. It is best to go to an elephant sanctuary and see elephants.

Shame on the Thai government for not passing laws to protect their national symbol.

 

[30la]

This is pure cruelty towards elephants, it would be interesting to know if the organizers paid anything and to whom.

[Oziex1]

1 hour ago, 30la said:

This is pure cruelty towards elephants, it would be interesting to know if the organizers paid anything and to whom.

"it would be interesting to know if the organizers paid anything and to whom".

 

I think that would be a given, good or bad it is the way business works in the country.

 

Personally I see it as animal exploitation, something the rest of the world has assigned to history.

[Bundooman]

In other words - the elephant owners paid their dues - so shut up!

[Just Weird]

11 hours ago, toenail said:

Riding elephants or watching elephants do tricks is outdated entertainment. Elephants face abuse in order to be trained. It is best to go to an elephant sanctuary and see elephants.

Shame on the Thai government for not passing laws to protect their national symbol.

 

What's the difference between horse riding, for example, that no one ever criticizes, and elephant riding that so many people get indignant about?

 

 

[Just Weird]

8 hours ago, 30la said:

This is pure cruelty towards elephants, it would be interesting to know if the organizers paid anything and to whom.

How is riding an elephant "pure cruelty"?

[the guest]

35 minutes ago, Just Weird said:

How is riding an elephant "pure cruelty"?

Very easy, how do think ppl can ride ? Do you think Elephants naturally let you ride them?

 

Don't ride elephants !!!

 

 

 

[Skeptic7]

8 hours ago, Just Weird said:

What's the difference between horse riding, for example, that no one ever criticizes, and elephant riding that so many people get indignant about?

 

 

Horses are one of various "domesticated" species. Elephants are not considered such, but rather...wild.

[Skeptic7]

8 hours ago, Just Weird said:

How is riding an elephant "pure cruelty"?

Most captive elephants are taken from the wild, as they breed poorly in captivity. Selective breeding of elephants is impractical due to their long reproductive cycle, so there are no domesticated breeds. Most captives are endangered Asian elephants.

[ThaiBunny]

5 minutes ago, Skeptic7 said:

Most captive elephants are taken from the wild, as they breed poorly in captivity. Selective breeding of elephants is impractical due to their long reproductive cycle, so there are no domesticated breeds. Most captives are endangered Asian elephants.

It's rather a leap to then say that domesticating a wild animal is therefore "pure cruelty". At one point every animal species that has been domesticated has been subjected to "pure cruelty" on that theory. Even domesticated horses have to be "broken in" if they are to be ridden, so I guess domestication is OK but riding is not?

[orchis]

elephants need shade

[arithai12]

8 hours ago, Just Weird said:

What's the difference between horse riding, for example, that no one ever criticizes, and elephant riding that so many people get indignant about?

 

 

Let me see... the same difference between killing a turkey for food and killing a dog for food? One of them is a recognized crime in most countries.

[arithai12]

Forget the corals, what about the elephant poo near the beach and in the shallow water? As I remember, they shoot cannon balls.

[ThaiBunny]

2 minutes ago, arithai12 said:

Let me see... the same difference between killing a turkey for food and killing a dog for food? One of them is a recognized crime in most countries.

"Most" countries? I think not, unless you mean "a skerrick over 50%" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dog_meat

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, orchis said:

elephants need shade

Despite huge development behind the beach in recent years Tri Trang still has many shade trees close to the water's edge.

 

 

I don't agree with the use of these animals in this manner, but accept that Thais will always decide on how things happen in their country.

 

If tourists didn't create a demand this wouldn't occur. 

[Old Croc]

1 hour ago, arithai12 said:

Forget the corals, what about the elephant poo near the beach and in the shallow water? As I remember, they shoot cannon balls.

The owners have promised to remove all the dung. 

Elephant dung is mainly fiber so wouldn't necessarily be a toxic hazard anyway.

 

This explanation doesn't mean I'm supporting the use of these animals for tourist rides.

 

 

 

 

[Vacuum]

21 hours ago, toenail said:

protect their national symbol

You mean the ฿aht?

[Skeptic7]

2 hours ago, ThaiBunny said:

It's rather a leap to then say that domesticating a wild animal is therefore "pure cruelty". At one point every animal species that has been domesticated has been subjected to "pure cruelty" on that theory. Even domesticated horses have to be "broken in" if they are to be ridden, so I guess domestication is OK but riding is not?

There are myriad reasons which any honest person knows is cruel in captive elephants, as well as other captive species. I was just providing 1 big one. Also cruelty is cruelty and you have no idea my opinion on domestication and usage of animals. (hint: vegan) And to further enhance your knowledge...some species are more well suited to domestication. Not all species have the necessary traits. 

[ThaiBunny]

Just now, Skeptic7 said:

There are myriad reasons which any honest person knows 

Right. So if I don't know then I'm not honest?

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, Skeptic7 said:

Horses are one of various "domesticated" species. Elephants are not considered such, but rather...wild.

The elephants that are used for rides etc. are domesticated!  You think that they are wild? 

 

Horses were wild before they were domesticated, do you think that horses evolved to be ridden by humans?    Have you ever seen a horse's reaction the first time someone attempts to ride it?  Jesus...

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, arithai12 said:

Let me see... the same difference between killing a turkey for food and killing a dog for food? One of them is a recognized crime in most countries.

What?  What sort of analogy is that?  In which countries are elephant-riding and horse-riding offences?

[Just Weird]

3 hours ago, orchis said:

elephants need shade

...and horses, for example, don't? Every living being needs shade including the people doing no harm by having an elephant ride!

[Just Weird]

11 hours ago, the guest said:

Very easy, how do think ppl can ride ? Do you think Elephants naturally let you ride them?

 

Don't ride elephants !!!

 

 

 

A one minute out of context clip is supposed to prove what?   What was that elephant being restrained for, riding?

 

Do you think that any animal naturally allows humans to ride on their backs?  If you feel so strongly about the subject of animal domestication  why are you not fighting the cause of horses, mules, donkeys, buffalo or camels?  What's so special about these elephants  being ridden?

 

Ride elephants if you wish!!  If an elephant really does not want someone on it's back it won't allow it.

[toenail]

The elephant is Thailand’s national symbol (animal) & highly regarded in Buddhism. You would think the government would have laws protecting this endangered species.



Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[The Cobra]

No different to riding any other animal, whether that be Horse, buffalo, camel or Elephant.

 

Given the size and power to weight ratio, a human is akin to fly on its back and would easily be disposed of, if it had the desire. 

 

 

 

 

 

[worgeordie]

Dad, what kind of sea creature is that?

That's no sea creature,son its a pile of Elephant shit.

regards worgeordie

[LeungKen]

One off topic post removed,

[Skeptic7]

4 hours ago, Just Weird said:

The elephants that are used for rides etc. are domesticated!  You think that they are wild? 

 

Horses were wild before they were domesticated, do you think that horses evolved to be ridden by humans?    Have you ever seen a horse's reaction the first time someone attempts to ride it?  Jesus...

The Asian Elephant is on the semi-domesticsted list, not the domesticated list. Meaning captive and trained/tamed. (African Elephant is on neither list).

 

Unlike the Asian Elephant, the Horse is on the list of domesticated animals. 

 

The following is from an article on animal domestication and this is the group which Asian Elephant is included. 

 

Due to the somewhat unclear outlines of what, precisely, constitutes domestication, there are some species that may or may not be fully domesticated. There are also species that are extensively used or kept as pets by humans, but are not significantly altered from wild-type animals. Most animals on this second table are at least somewhat altered from wild animals by their extensive interactions with humans. Many could not be released into the wild, or are in some way dependent on humans.

[Old Croc]

7 hours ago, The Cobra said:

No different to riding any other animal, whether that be Horse, buffalo, camel or Elephant.

 

Given the size and power to weight ratio, a human is akin to fly on its back and would easily be disposed of, if it had the desire. 

 

Myth: Elephants are strong animals and can easily carry  people on their backs

False. Once fully trained, elephants used for riding will need to carry at least one person on its back, either on a blanket or saddle, but often with no padding at all. Although elephants are large and strong, they are not built to carry weight on their backs. Carol Buckley, president of Elephant Aid International explains that “instead of smooth, round spinal disks, elephants have sharp bony protrusions that extend upwards from their spine. These bony protrusions and the tissue protecting them are vulnerable to weight and pressure coming from above.”

Many riding facilities force elephants to carry their carer plus one or sometimes even two visitors. Carrying just one adult on its back can cause the elephant pain and over time potentially even spinal injury.