Happy Elephant Care Valley in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is truly putting the welfare of its elephants first by making the move to stop all contact between tourists and elephants.
With an ever-increasing demand by responsible tourists seeking ethical elephant experiences, the park is working with World Animal Protection, along with a coalition of pioneering travel groups such as G Adventures, Intrepid, Thomas Cook and many more, to change the way they manage and present their elephants to tourists.
“With the support of the world’s leading travel companies, this agreement is a significant milestone for World Animal Protection,” said Steve McIvor, CEO at World Animal Protection. “It will show that high-welfare venues for elephants can be commercially viable for elephant camp owners – encouraging them to value and care for their animals.”
Sadly, the majority of elephant venues in Thailand, and further afield in Southeast Asia, still offer elephant riding, feeding and other contact with humans, which requires inherently cruel training practices.
But times are changing. A worldwide study by KANTAR revealed that the number of people who think it’s okay to ride an elephant has dropped from 53% to 44% in only three years. It also reported that 80% of tourists would rather observe elephants in their natural habitat.
Tourists were previously granted full contact with the elephants at Happy Elephant Care Valley; until recently, the venue offered riding, bathing and feeding. The riding ceased following the presentation of a business case put together by the travel industry coalition, which showed the huge demand for a more elephant-friendly model. The camp is currently phasing out washing and feeding, and will transition to provide the elephants with an environment that gives them the freedom to wander around the grounds, enjoy mud and dust baths, graze, and bathe in the river — all while tourists observe these gentle giants from afar.
“Happy Elephant Care Valley is a groundbreaking development for both elephants and tourists,” McIvor said. “It will be a very real example of an attraction where tourists can see elephants behaving naturally and freely as part of a herd. It will demonstrate that elephant-friendly experiences are possible, without forcing cruel interactions with people.”
The coalition is working on this transition throughout the rest of 2018, and planning a grand re-opening of this newly positioned elephant-friendly park around the end of the year.
Finally sense has prevailed. Let’s get more on board. Peace to all the animals
Finally sense has prevailed. Let’s get more on board. Peace to all the animals
Finally we are on the right rias. Let’s get more on board
PEOPLE…IF WE ALL STOP PAYING TO SEE ANIMAL SHOWS, THE COMPANIES WILL GO BROKE! WE NEED TO BOYCOTT ANY ANIMAL SHOW…PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE BOYCOTT ANIMAL SHOWS.
All I can say is A M E N!
This is good news!
Inadmissible horrible personnages
THANK GOD!!! I hope this begins a domino effect and ALL the venues using elephants do this-making it more of a sanctuary that people can come to visit and just watch these awesome animals in a Natural, peaceful and respectful way!
Thank Goodness!!!!
BEST NEWS EVER. HOPE THE OTHER ELEPHANT CAPTORS QUICKLY FOLLOW SUIT.
Than-you to travel companies and all involved for Happy Elephant.
Please spread the news to the others and ask them to follow. We want Cruelty free when we see elephants.
YIPEEEEE. BEST NEWS I’VE READ ALL DAY
Good to hear ! The elephants will be happy !
THat is excellent News. Do you have a list of the places that still offer elephant rides so we can ask for a boycott of them ?
Good to hear I really hope that other places could see this and follow along animals need more places that tend to them and do what they need not what some humans want from them.
Thank you for this wonderful news — good work WAP! — keep it up! — ensure all elephants get their much-needed protections to live happy, healthy lives — again, THANK YOU — we all appreciate this progress, especially the elephants.
They are getting better, But I notice this elephant is still on a short chain.
So refreshing to hear some good about animals which makes small victories seem even sweeter. I’m so happy for those wonderful elephants.
Happy Elephant Care Valley…I am so very happy and appreciative to learn of your new values for Elephants. Hopefully you can influence other facilities to follow your example. Thank you very much.
VICTORY!!!!!
Thank you
Very glad to hear it!
Good moves. Hope it lasts. ??????
Very good news
Thanku Happy Eleohant Care Valley. I sm so hapoy to hear that their welfare is finally bring taken into consideration. They are truly majestic animals.
People need to leave animals along.they wasn’t made for pets.some people just don’t care about them and there lives
Maybe we should stop riding and feeding horses, as well as not trim their feet, or medicate them when sick.
So happy to hear about this new plan to help the elephants, and educate the tourists. Hoping this makes the other facilities with animals to follow suite. God Bless and Thank you God!
Yay! About time. Is great to see that the people running these places are FINALLY putting these magnificent creatures welfare first before money for once. Let’s hope it remains like this always&that all the others follow suit, as it is desparatly needed.
Good to hear this – at last