CHIANG MAI, 31 May 2018: Happy Elephant Care Valley, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is about to embark on a landmark agreement that will transform it into a “truly elephant-friendly” venue.
Toronto-based World Animal Protection released details, Wednesday, of a plan to sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will over the next six months remove “all physical interaction between tourists and elephants” at the North Thailand camp”.
The animal welfare charity said the transformation in the business model would ensure the attraction met the growing demand for responsible elephant experiences.
Backing the World Animal Protection initiative is a global coalition of travel companies that previously promoted elephant ride camps in their tour programmes sold through retail travel agency networks.
Today, they are staunch supporters of the campaign to end elephant rides. Coalition members include TUI Group, The Travel Corporation (TTC), Intrepid Group, G Adventures, EXO Travel and Thomas Cook Group.
Elephant camps in Thailand that have around 3,500 elephants under their care need to adopt a new business model that does not include commercial rides. Experts say it should start by charging visitors a fee to observe elephants. Many elephant parks charge for just the ride allowing free entrance to the elephant stable complex.
But opinion is divided with some travel company leaders saying Thailand’s domestic elephants have been ridden for centuries, without causing physical harm.
However, WAP argues there are commercial alternatives for camps to adopt that would save their business and offer elephants a refuge from cruelty.
In its latest assessment the charity claims thousands of captive elephants, at venues across Thailand, are still used for rides. To ensure the proud animals are submissive requires a cruel regimen that starts with the young calves and continues into adulthood.
The 2017 KANTAR global poll showed 44% of respondents still believe riding elephants is okay. However, that was a decline of 9% when compared with a previous survey, three years earlier, when 53% said riding elephants was acceptable.
The poll also shows that more than 80% of tourists would prefer to see elephants in their natural environment, proving elephant-friendly tourism is on the rise.
The elephants at Happy Elephant Care Valley were previously from farms and riding camps. Until recently it was possible for close interaction between tourists and the elephants at the venue, with tourists being able to ride (bare-back), bathe and feed elephants.
The owners have now agreed to end the practice after the travel industry coalition presented a business case demonstrating the rise of elephant-friendly tourism.
The transition will see the elephants eventually enjoying an environment that allows them to behave as they would in the wild; free to roam the valley, graze and bathe in rivers as tourists standing at a safe distance but able to enjoy the natural experience.
World Animal Protection Canada, executive director, Josey Kitson said: “Through the support of these travel companies we are proving that elephant-friendly venues… make both ethical and financial sense for camp owners.
“Happy Elephant Care Valley’s move is a huge step forward for both elephants and ethical tourists. It will provide an incredible opportunity tourists who want a positive experience seeing elephants behaving naturally and freely as part of a herd.”
The Memorandum of Understanding between Happy Elephant Care Valley and World Animal Protection was due to be signed this month.
The transition to the new model will take the rest of the year to complete. The park will be relaunched either at the end of 2018 or in early 2019.
(SOURCE World Animal Protection)
