Jump to content

Thailand to celebrate elephant day on Sunday


rooster59

Recommended Posts

Thailand to celebrate elephant day on Sunday

post-247607-0-05412600-1457769754_thumb.

BANGKOK: As the country is going to mark the National Elephant Day tomorrow, all elephant camps nationwide are prepared to host feasts for the animal that has close link to the Thai people and had shaped the Thai histories since the ancient time.

Meanwhile in his speech last night on television pool network, Prime Minister Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha called on all Thais to help protect Thai elephants as tomorrow (March 13) is the National Elephant Day in Thailand.

Gen Prayut said elephants are sacred animals that represent Thai kings as well as the kingdom, according to the National News Bureau of Thailand (NNT).

The way of life of Thai people is connected to elephants whose contributions have been recognized since ancient times.

Since the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) and the current administration took office, he said Thailand’s effort in fight against illegal ivory trade has been acknowledged by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

He said the government was determined to turn an elephant reserve in Surin province into a tourist destination, hoping to attract more foreign visitors.

He said European and Japanese tourists have a huge admiration for elephants.

Yesterday an elephant camp in Ayutthaya province held a grand feast for elephants to raise awareness about the importance of Thai elephants and elephant conservation in marking of the national elephant day tomorrow.

The feast was meant to say “thank you” for you elephant.

According to a camp owner, elephants had helped protect the country’s sovereignty in the past and today they help to attract tourists into the country.

Elephant is a symbol of Thailand and has played important part of Thai culture.

In the past, elephants fought alongside Thai warriors in battles to protect the country, said the camp owner Laithongrien Meepan.

But today, they are magnet to tourists, helping generate enormous revenue to the country every year.

Thai jumbos are entering another war and this time they are fighting to attract tourists as Malaysia is training wild elephants for the sake of tourism to draw tourists.

At the same time the Tourism Services Development Bureau is working to help raise standards of elephant camps in Thailand to boost tourists’ confidence in the country.

Presently there are about 150 elephant camps across Thailand and only eight of them are up to the standards.

Director of The Tourism Services Development Bureau Mrs Rattanawalai Khantijunruechai said elephant camps need to ensure tourists safety and hygiene conditions and also need to provide hygiene care for their elephants.

She said stray elephant is another concern as many mahouts elephants onto streets to make earnings.

Last month, 30 domesticated elephants were taken onto the streets by their owners.

Concerned agencies are working with mahouts to fix the problem and they are sure in two year times there will be no stray elephants on Thai streets, she said.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/content/154822

thaipbs_logo.jpg
-- Thai PBS 2016-03-12

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I respect all animals as we all should. They're not here for our amusement and they shouldn't be exploited for money.

After 'debating' with a local about how it's cruel to keep elephants locked up to play football and paint pictures etc, she came to the desperate conclusion that elephants have to pay their way. There's not much room in the wild so humans take them in, take care of them (food and medication) and the elephants playing football is like a job to pay for this.

I also had to explain to a free spirited foreign tourist that tigers don't enjoy the company of humans. They don't enjoy hugs and selfies. They're clearly drugged. "Not these ones" she said.

People need to pull their heads out of their asses. This whole mindset all over the world has to change.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just leave them gentle beasts be. That's celebrating them already. This elephant day farce is just unnecessary.

And, if elephants are as sacred as you say, and represent Thai kings, then all the more reason they should be left alone and not be made to carry stupid tourists on their back. Is that so hard to understand, especially in a nation that reveres its kings and royalty?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The elephant in Thailand is such a maligned animal one wonders whether a guilty conscious mentality is the result of Elephant day , one cannot figure out the ivory trade regulations when it is not okay to trade in African Elephant tusks but okay to trade Asian elephant tusks, what's the difference , both need to be dead to get their ivory, or is it the Hi So end of town just protecting their territory...........................................coffee1.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So if there's 150 elephant 'camps' within this nation..how many elephants live their lives shackled in chains..?

If tourist money is involved, then some form of Mafia will be running many of these 'camps'..which as we all know, despite the claims of a round-up

(of mafia, not Chang)..it will not change anything...these poor beasts will still be in chains whether it be 'Elephant Sunday' or any other day for years to come...TiT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Why is the elephant an appropriate symbol for Thailand?

1. An elephant takes ages to get up to speed but once going finds it very difficult to change course quickly

2. An elephant has a very long memory coupled with very poor vision

3. An elephant is high maintenance but practically useless for anything other than extracting currency from tourists

4. Elephant males are very unpredictable and often violent when their hormones get going

5. Elephant society is rigid and hierarchical

6. Elephants are ill equipped for survival in the modern world and need to be protected

7. Elephants eat approximately 18 hours out of 24

8. Elephants have very few skills of interest to international business

9. Elephants don't know anything about elephant history

10. Elephants are lousy drivers.

11. elephants cannot consume alcohol without making fools of themselves

Link to comment
Share on other sites

In honour of 'National Elephant Day', a procession of over 30 elephants carrying Buddhist monks rode through the north-eastern city of Surin. Dozens of monks from local temples took part in the ceremony, blessing the animals and passing round baskets for alms collections to go towards the elephant's upkeep.

Elephants are revered in Thailand, especially in rural areas farmers use them to help with agricultural work. Elephants also have a deep religious meaning in Buddhism with Buddha's mother said to have dreamt of a white elephant before he was born. This is one of the reasons why elephants are so important to Thai and Buddhists around the world.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Every year, world famous Nong Nooch Garden and Resort in Na-Jomtien celebrates 13th March as Elephant Day. Rightly so, because the tropical garden attraction boasts a herd of talented elephants of all ages and sizes, that constantly amaze guests with their skills. Therefore, on this their special day all the elephants were treated to a special vegetarian buffet before getting back to work of making guests smile and have a great day out at Nong Nooch.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.




×
×
  • Create New...