Newly proposed legislation pitched to the British Parliament would ban UK tourist agencies from advertising unethical, international attractions that exploit and abuse endangered Asian Elephants.
Scientists estimate that fewer than 30,000 Asian Elephants remain in the wild under huge pressure from habitat loss and poaching for tourism and ivory— sobering numbers that are pushing the highly-intelligent and empathetic animals to the brink of extinction. Despite their endangered status, people capture thousands of Asian elephants and force them into brutal, degrading, and often deadly “entertainment” for tourists.
Save The Asian Elephants (STAE), a London-based nonprofit, drafted the ban on advertising venues that promote elephant cruelty and also started a petition, which since has garnered more than 1 million signatures of support worldwide.
The nonprofit’s CEO Duncan McNair said a confluence of factors — including a receptive government, growing public awareness of the horrific cruelty elephants endure in temples and tourist destinations, and elephants’ vulnerability to catching and spreading COVID-19 — created an ideal opportunity for the recommended ban.
“We have presented enormous amounts of evidence to show the abuse is widespread, it is extreme, and that elephants are nearing extinction in our lifetime,” McNair told Lady Freethinker. “We have a government that is receptive. They have given us a lot of time, and I do believe they are taking it seriously, for which we are so grateful.”
Seeing Elephant Abuse First Hand
McNair has traveled to temples and “sanctuaries” worldwide — including in India and Thailand — where he has witnessed the brutal breaking of wild elephants’ bodies and wills so they submit to degrading behaviors, such as performing tricks or giving “rides” to tourists.
The ruthless process starts with people snatching wild infant elephants from their mothers, who are most often killed for trying to defend their babies. The baby elephants are then caged, tethered, starved, stabbed with knives and nails, and beaten with rods, chains, and vicious bullhooks in a practice known as ‘phajaan’ or ‘pajan’ – a Hindu word that literally means ‘breaking of the spirit,’ McNair said.
“I have seen elephants with great chunks ripped out of them. Elephants stabbed under their toenails. Elephants standing on heaps of mess and rotting food, and they get septic and fall over,” he said. “I’ve looked into the eyes of these elephants, and they are silently screaming at you for help.”
McNair spoke with Lady Freethinker about the importance of the ban and life-saving steps that everyday people can take now to help save endangered Asian Elephants.

(Courtesy of Save The Asian Elephants. Photo Credit- Lukasz Szmigiel)
Interview with Duncan McNair of Save The Asian Elephants (STAE)
Why is a ban on advertising elephant cruelty venues needed? Why now?
McNair said that UK-based travel agencies are promoting thousands of abusive venues, including seven considered the most violent. Asian elephants’ dwindling numbers, combined with the brutal abuse they endure to break them to people’s will, make immediate action necessary, he said.
“We can’t control how animals are treated abroad or regulate foreign markets, but we can influence the consumption habits of our own citizens in the United Kingdom,” he said. “We can influence what our UK consumers buy and what they are exposed to, and any facility with the characteristics of cruelty should not be advertised.”
There’s also a health factor. Elephants have contracted and passed along zoonotic diseases, including tuberculosis and SARS. Research suggests that immune-compromised elephants, kept in close confinement to other elephants and people, could contract and spread COVID-19, which scientists believe spreads primarily through infected respiratory droplets, such as from sneezes and coughs.
“Elephants cough, they sneeze, they spray water,” McNair said. “On top of that, when you have these broken-down elephants that people are riding, and taking selfies with, you create a perfect storm [for the spread of zoonotic diseases].”
Only visits to genuine sanctuaries and wildlife reserves, where tourists observe elephants at respectful distances, should be advertised by the Association of British Travel Agents and its members, he said.

(Courtesy of Save The Asian Elephants. Photo Credit: Brent Lewin Redux Laif)
How can people spot the difference between a true elephant sanctuary and an unethical, cruel vacation spot?
Every elephant brought into captivity, “pretty much without exception,” experiences cruelty, McNair said. A venue labeling itself a “sanctuary” is no guarantee that animals are treated well, he added.
“A ‘sanctuary’ is an elastic term,” McNair said. “Most places are not actually sanctuaries. If elephants are being observed from a respectable distance, in a herd environment and in a natural environment, that’s a good start to the venue being a genuine sanctuary.”
Signs of abuse include elephants crammed together, with no access to food or water, and who are carrying injuries — including scars or stab wounds around their feet or chunks of flesh missing from bullhook wounds. Elephants whose eyes are a milky color likely have been blinded as part of their abuse, McNair said.
One example of what McNair dubbed a “good” elephant park is the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. To make sure you’re avoiding the worst of the parks out there, don’t miss our action steps at the end of the story.

A stick placed upside the elephant’s head, should it drop to the ground he will be beaten with it. (Courtesy of Save The Asian Elephants. Photo Credit: Louis Wood)
Do you expect challenges to the proposed ban? Alternately, what message would the UK be sending to the world by passing the ban?
McNair said the people of faith he has talked to who became aware of the horrific abuse elephants endure in temples unanimously oppose the continued practice. Nothing in the Hindu religion dictates killing, stabbing, or brutalizing animals, he said.
“Quite the opposite,” he said. “I have a huge respect for the Hindu faith, which is a peace-loving system. What goes on with the elephants in these temples is an absolute repudiation of the Hindu faith.”
He anticipates pushback from the travel and tourism agencies, although he added the ban has received a small amount of support from some very good travel companies.
“We’ve presented the evidence to the travel industry, and they have ignored it,” he said “But we also took the evidence to the government, and they are considering it, and for that we are grateful and we have hope.”
If the British Parliament agrees to support the ban, the country would be sending a powerful message to the rest of the world, he said.
“We can be very proud if we pass this legislation for this ancient species,” he said. “It would send a very positive message to the world, not only about the Prime Minister, who has a good intuition for animal welfare, but it can also show that Britain can stand proud in the face of the world, and say that we have done what is right while there is still time.”

(Courtesy of Save The Asian Elephants. Photo Credit: Iswanto-Arif)
5 Ways To Help Save Asian Elephants Exploited in Tourist Traps
1. Sign Save The Asian Elephant’s petition and ask the British government to support the proposed ban on tourist agencies’ advertisement of venues that promote animal cruelty.
2. Write to your lawmakers and educate them about elephant cruelty issues. STAE has letter templates available on its website that can easily be modified to fit your country.
3. Don’t support elephant cruelty. Do your research and be wary of any “sanctuaries” that offer close contact with wild elephants. McNair said these are some of the worst: Chitwan National Park, Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage and Sanctuary, Pattaya Elephant Village, Sriracha Tiger Zoo, Kodanad Elephant Training Centre, Punnathur Kotta Elephant Sanctuary, Guruvayur Elephant Camp, and Nong Nooch Village Park.
4. Get educated. Visit STAE’s website for recent news and action alerts.
5. Get involved. STAE loves its volunteers, many of whom work remotely and tirelessly for the cause by researching, writing articles, organizing information archives, or helping out with social media and outreach. Email [email protected] for more information.

I want to voice my extreme horror how these elephants are mistreated. Please do whatever you can to stop this!
This is barbaric , yet people support this without your money they are powerless please help these beautiful creatures
How dare they!!!! This makes me so angry! There are times where I can’t even bare to sign these petitions because I start bawling my eyes out. I have to be strong! When I’m signing a petition at least I know my signature might help an abused innocent animal❤️
What is the world is wrong with all the monsters that harm,tortue and abuse animals!!!??? God help us all. And may everyone who inflicts the kind of abuse torture and pain on any animal may they endure the same hell one day.
HOW DISGUSTING THAT THESE REGAL GENTLE SENTIENT CREATURES ARE CONTINUING TO BE ABUSED, BEATEN, POACHED AND HUNTED BY THE VILEST CREATURE ON EARTH:: GREEDY HEARTLESS IGNORANT HUMANS AND THIS IS STILL LEGAL IN THIS DAY IN AGE? THE STUPIDITY AND SELFISHNESS OF UNEDUCATED TOURISTS PAYING TO INTERACT WITH ELEPHANTS EQUALS THEM ALSO PAYING FOR ELEPHANTS CONTINUED ABUSE. THIS MUST BE STOPPED NOW WITH NOT ONLY HEAVY FINES BUT MANDATORY JAIL SENTENCES OF MINIMUM FIVE YEARS. THE AFRICAN AND ASIAN GOVERNMENTS ARE SO GREEDY -THERE WILL ALWAYS BE SOMEONE WILLING O LOOK THE OTHER WAY WHILE THE HUNTERS, POACHERS, TOURIST TRADE REPRESENTATIVES PADS THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS ALL THE WAY TO THE SAFARI GUIDES WALLETS. JAIL SENTENCES MUST BE MANDATORY AS WELL AS PERMANENTLY REVOKING LICENSES RELATED TO ANY BUSINESS INVOLVING ANY ANIMALS
Elephants are not for you crule Human to abuse. Cease this Barbaric way of life.
Breaks my heart to see these. What happened to humanity? These animals have feelings, they hurt, they bleed, they have families that care about them. Please help them
STOP AT CRUELTY TO ELEPHANTS. WE MUST TAKE CARE OF THEM.
I find it incredibly amazing some people think it is ok to take something that’s not theirs and then abuse it for their satisfaction and gain profit from it. I pray and hope some this will stop but unfortunately I don’t think it will until everything is destroyed.
I AM SO ASHAMED TO BE HUMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!
Stop these sociopaths from doing this. This is not okay.
Please save elephants from abuses
This is horrendous and must stop.
WHY WOULD ANY, HALF DECENT, HUMAN BEING TREAT ANY ANIMAL LIKE THAT???
EVIL. SICK. TWISTED. INADEQUATE INDIVIDUALS!!!
Monsters, please help the elefants
Please stop this torture on these poor animals
This hurts my spirit, scars my soul, how can mankind be so cruel. This must end.
No animal should go though this abuse punish the abusers
questo comportamento nei confronti degli elefanti è disgustoso e non è degno di una persona umana. Chi la pratica meriterebbe di esser messo al bando della comunità civile ma , una grossa colpa se ciò avviene è anche del turismo che crea una domanda di queste prestazioni degradanti per un nobile animale come l’elefante. Bene fa il governo inglese a dissuadere le agenzie del turismo a promozionare queste attività.
These torturers and abusers must be brought even more to the attention of people all over the world. Tourism should be banned so that these devil people cannot make ANY money off of exploiting and torturing poor innocents.
Animal cruelty needs to be cancelled! 🐘❤️
How can any person with a heart do these horrendous acts of violence to another living thing? Something is terribly wrong with these people.
Stop this violence
This is a beautiful animal. I believe there are other ways to bring people out to visit your Country
STOP NOW!!!
Comment l’humain peut faire pour etre si cruel c’est a se demander qui es l’animal que justice soit fait pour ses animaux
Save the elephants. The world does not belong to humans, therefore, humans MUST respect all others.
Hnus, hnus, tento národ zaslouží stejné zacházení jako se oni chovají ke zvířatům, slonům, jak je možné, že se toto dovolí v 21. století!
Beyond comprehension. This must stop.
Please stop this madness worldwide.
I’m from Sri Lanka and I applaud this decision. There are many elephants living as prisoners of Buddhist temples here too. The cultural pressure is so strong because they are used as decorations in traditional processions and also as status symbols. Elephants as all animals deserve their dignity and right to live a free life.
Make petition available to all to send to officials who have the power to do something. That will work better.
Please stop the extreme cruelties these poor elephants endure by these mentally ill and ignorant people. Even the hindu religion doesn’t say to treat animals with this extreme torture, misery, viciousness and cruelty. Stop this madness for ever. I will never visit Indi or Asian countries that continue this. We all need to boycott these evil countries that allow this.
Stop torturing these poor elephants, this has to stop now
Difficult to be peaceful about something so virulently destructive.
Stop okrucieństwu, to czujące istoty zasługują na godne życie
These maggots don’t don’t need to keep the elephants. They look like poachers not animal keepers. It is a Wonder that the elephant has not turned on them. They need to be taken to place where they can live their life out. Not a stinky place,a clean sanitary place.The men who r beating the elephants I hope they get charged with abuse and sent to jail.
This a horrific and cruel practice that needs to stop!