Living under bridge piers for years + enduring mental stress — these 3 types of elephants in Thailand are the most heartbreaking

▲ This elephant was previously used as a tool and was not treated well, appearing emaciated. (Photo / ElephantsWorld I2  . I2 #2)

Reporter Lin Yuling / Interview and report

Doris Lee, a Taiwanese girl, volunteered with elephants in Thailand last month and witnessed the “most heartbreaking dents” on their backs; in addition, she revealed that there are three types of working elephants in the area that are the most pitiable, which arethe logging industry, street begging elephants, and ride elephants. Among them, begging elephants live under bridge piers year-round, usually wandering the streets where the asphalt can easily harm the soles of their feet, and the constant noise of the city causes immense mental stress, resulting in a very poor quality of life.

During her time volunteering at “Elephants World” in Thailand, Doris had to explain to visitors every day about the past experiences of these elephants. Most of them came from working elephants in three industries but were treated inhumanely, suffering long-term physical and mental health issues before being rescued and brought to the sanctuary to live.

▲ Doris during her volunteer period, leading tourists to feed the elephants. (Photo / Provided by Doris Lee)

1. Working elephants in the logging industry:Elephants have very strong necks and trunks, capable of dragging items weighing up to 500 kilograms, so they were used as tools for transport. However, in the heyday of the logging industry, these working elephants often worked overtime and were frequently injured by branches, which blinded them or left scars — a truly pitiful situation.

2. Begging elephants:After the logging industry was banned by the local government, unemployed loggers wandered the streets with their working elephants and ended up living and begging on the streets, gradually giving rise to the so-called “begging elephant” phenomenon. However, walking on hard, scorching asphalt roads causes long-term damage to the soles of the elephants’ feet, and the constant noise of the streets also creates immense mental stress, which can lead to sudden outbursts and accidents. They usually live under bridge piers, eat very little, and their quality of life is extremely harsh.

3. Ride elephants:They exist for tourism and entertainment purposes, mainly tasked with carrying passengers. Although elephants’ necks and trunks are strong enough to lift 500-kilogram objects, so riding on their necks isn’t inherently a problem. But an elephant’s back is very fragile, yet the heavy iron chairs used for passengers are placed directly on their backs — ill-fitting and repetitive day after day, year after year. No matter how strong the elephant is, it can’t endure it indefinitely. Their bodies become deformed, leaving permanent indentations on their backs and indelible psychological scars, and some even collapse and die.

▲ Many ride elephants wear ill-fitting iron chairs, carrying passengers day after day, year after year, until their backs become deformed and they eventually collapse. (Photo / ElephantsWorld I2  . I2 #2)

Doris said that the first two industries have already been banned by the government, and anyone who sees them can report them at any time. But the existence of “ride elephants” and the way elephants are treated is highly questionable. Because they are forced to work like this day after day, possibly for 30 or 40 years, until they collapse. So she wants to tell everyone: “Please, stop riding elephants!” What you think is just a 20-minute ride actually endorses an industry that ruins the lives of many elephants. If more and more people refuse to ride elephants, she believes local tourism models will gradually shift — perhaps toward allowing tourists to experience the joy of caring for elephants instead.

“Elephants World” specializes in rescuing and sheltering these overworked elephants. When visitors come here, they can help harvest crops, prepare snacks for the elephants, feed them personally, and even bathe them in the river. Therefore, the mission of this place is:“Not to have elephants work for us, but for us to work for elephants.”Through unique and close-up interactions, gain a deeper understanding of these highly intelligent large animals.

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