Welcome to Thailand – home of tropical weather, white sand, turquoise waters, delicious vegan food, exotic animals and BIG tourism dollars. Thailand’s thriving tourism industry is big bucks and in a country where the average monthly salary is less then you might earn in one day most Thai people want to take advantage of your tourist dollar. And of course you want to take advantage of what they offer. All the best to both of you…except there is a dark side. In a country where little to no animal right laws exist Thailand’s beautiful and exotic animals are being misused, mistreated and subjected to a life of imprisonment because your tourist dollar unknowingly supports a gloomy and cruel industry hidden from the public eye.
I am a Veterinary Tech/Nurse and dedicate my life to working with small non profit animal rescue organizations around the world. I have just spent the past two years living and working in Thailand for an incredible multi animal rescue sanctuary, Elephant Nature Park. During that time I’ve had unfortunate glimpses “behind the scenes” of the traditional Elephant Camps and Animal Shows put on for the benefit of the foreign tourist. And it’s ugly. A world of chains, imprisonment and beatings if the animal does not perform as required. This is their daily life.
Elephant Nature Park is a unique project set in the Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. They rescue all animals – large and small. Perhaps you have heard the name before – if you have looked into eco tourism. Established in the 1990’s it’s their aim to always provide a safe haven, sanctuary and rescue centre for all animals large and small – with elephants at its forefront. They offer day visits, overnight stays and volunteer opportunities. You WILL NOT ride an elephant here, you WILL NOT find bull hooks here (the wooden handle half circle metal hook used to gouge eyes and ears of misbehaving elephants in traditional elephant camps and featured in almost every elephant photo in the illegitimate elephant camps – just look closely and you will see it). You WILL find a calm, peaceful and happy home, founded on the tourist dollars, where all of the elephants (some with permanent injuries from their past) and other animals will spend the days. Here they are all safe. Here you walk side by side with them, feed them and take pictures with them.
Elephant Nature Park is one of the largest elephant/animal sanctuaries in Thailand, however it’s far from the only one. Many more do exist. As a tourist to Thailand I encourage you to make your tourist dollar count towards a happy and cruelty free tourist market. If you plan to visit exotic animals do your research and make sure the place you’re visiting isn’t a traditional camp or animal show, but a legitimate sanctuary.
Helpful Tips
-Be mindful of the ones that claim to be safe havens but still allow you to ride the elephants or put on animal shows.
-Look for the bull hook in the photos advertising the place – if it is present don’t support that company. I know first hand bull hooks are not necessary despite what you might otherwise be told.
-If the place advertises youngsters/babies ask about the mother and why they have babies. All babies should be with their mother, but most importantly legitimate sanctuaries do not form a habit of breeding.
-And lastly, trust your instincts – if the place doesn’t feel right, it’s probably not.
About the author: Sarah Wexler is a veterinary nurse/technician and a prominent member of the vegan community. After spending years traveling and volunteering to help animals she found herself in Nepal during the earthquake and saw just how large the demand for free veterinary care truly was. Sarah founded WWHFA (www.wwhfa.org) and through WWHFA hopes to build a world where tourists support cruelty free businesses and where animals who have never had access to veterinary care will now live better lives.
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