Taking steps to improve the welfare of Asian elephants
JMICAWE were very pleased to host Duncan McNair, CEO of Save The Asian Elephant on Friday 13th March to learn more about the work this charity is doing to improve the welfare of Asian elephants. Across Asia elephants are in use providing elephant rides, performing in circuses and at temples, often for tourists. As Duncan explained to staff and students, this hides the true story of how these elephants have been treated, and are treated when tourists are not present. Asian elephants are not a domesticated species, so they are taken from the wild and their mothers at a very young age, often leading to the death or injury of the mother as they try to protect their offspring.
Young animals are then restrained, starved, beaten and attacked with bull hooks (known as ‘pajan’) in order that the animals can be compelled to respond to human commands. The process teaches the animal that humans are associated with pain and fear, and they should perform as asked to avoid further suffering. Elephants then spend large parts of their lives chained up and shackled, prevented from performing normal social behaviour and expressing other behavioural freedoms. Often the sole purpose of taking animals from the wild and treating them in this way is to provide ‘entertainment’ for tourists.
So the opportunity to make a change is in our hands - when booking holidays ask tour operators and guides about their policy on elephant attractions, avoid attending circuses or taking elephant rides when in Asia, and choose ethical elephant tourism, such as opportunities to see elephants in their natural habitat and engaging in normal behaviours. Tour companies and operators will respond to the requests of their clients so if enough of us reject attractions that treat elephants badly we can make a difference.
We also hope to be able to contribute practically to the improvement in elephant welfare by training of veterinary undergraduates in elephant medicine and welfare. For more information and ways to make a difference visit
www.stae.org
