Love for animals should come with no strings attached
Source: South China Morning Post
The island of Bali, Indonesia is described as a “sun-soaked paradise” and is one of the most popular travel destinations for those seeking adventure and leisure. But is the island a paradise for its nonhuman inhabitants?
History of Elephants in Bali
Indonesia has two types of native elephants – the Borneo elephant and the Sumatran elephant. Though no elephants are native to the island of Bali, Sumatran elephants have been moved to the island as part of a government-run conservation program, due to the extraordinarily high rate of deforestation destroying their habitat on the island of Sumatra.
Quality of Life of Captive Bali Elephants
The government’s “rescue” of these animals unfortunately moves them from one bad situation to another. Instead of going to a place where they’re protected, they are sent to exploitative camps where they literally have to “earn their keep,” according to Nigel Mason, the owner of the only (relatively) reputable camp in Bali.
Undercover visits by World Animal Protection showed that wild animals were trained to be ridden, photographed, bathed, and otherwise interacted with at five large camps on Bali. When the elephants weren’t working, their legs were chained to the ground with short chains–even at the so-called “best” camp on the island.
Countless animal welfare groups have called for an end to riding elephants, including calling out travel agencies that sell trips to camps that offer such activities. It is widely recognized that elephant spines weren’t created to carry heavy weight.
Still, people who stand to profit from elephant exploitation apparently don’t think elephants are in enough distress giving rides, claiming their strength as large animals makes it okay. According to veterinarians and zoologists, like from Jakarta Animal Aid Network, it isn’t okay.
The issue is not only the weight put on elephants by human riders–it’s the taming process that makes them docile enough to be ridden that is also inhumane. As shown in the photos from WAP’s visits–elephants held captive for giving rides must be chained when they’re not working, a state that is inherently distressful to any elephant, no matter how long they’ve been in captivity. An elephant should always be able to move freely.
This inherent harmfulness applies to any activity that a human can pay to do with an elephant, including bathing and taking selfies.
“People go to these venues because they love animals, but they are unaware of the hidden cruelty behind the scenes, with many animals taken from their mothers as babies and forced to endure cruel and intensive training to make them ‘safe’ to interact with tourists.
Demand for Elephant Rides Must be Eliminated
As long as there are wild animals on the planet, there will be humans who only seek to profit off of their exploitation. But demand for their product is what keeps them in business. It’s up to travelers to show they’re no longer okay with wild animals being exploited merely for entertainment.
Not only does the demand for rides and other exploitative activities need to be eliminated, but demand for humane tourism needs to rise.
We need to seek out destinations that put the environment first, not tourists’ whims. As travelers, we should only be observing wildlife, not trying to interact with it. We need to be willing to visit a sanctuary without the guarantee that we will see an elephant–because it should always be on wild animals’ terms as to how and whether we observe them.
Travel Responsibly
Most people want to see a wild animal up close. We want to be able to interact with them because we, too, are animals, and it’s an amazing experience to connect with another species.
Unfortunately, it isn’t in the animal’s best interest. It may seem counterintuitive, but the best way to travel responsibly is to visit a sanctuary that does not offer interactive activities with the animals. Sanctuaries should minimize any interaction between visitors and animals to provide animals the most natural (and therefore least stressful) existence.
“As a good rule of thumb – if you can ride, hug or have a selfie with a wild animal there is cruelty involved, so don’t do it.”
The best place for a wild animal is in the wild. In the case of sumatran elephants, sadly, there is less and less “wild” for them to return to. The next best thing is a sanctuary that mimics their natural habitat.
What Can You Do?
Don’t give your money to camps that offer interactive experiences like elephant rides. Visit sanctuaries instead.
Don’t use travel agencies (for any trips) that sell trips to exploitative camps. Call out travel agencies that do.
Do your research to ensure you’re visiting a reputable sanctuary:
- Accredited by an independent professional group like Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries
- Can show where animals were rescued from
- Has a rehabilitation program if possible
- Doesn’t remove animals from enclosures for tourism
- Gives animals freedom to move to undisturbed areas away from human view
- Does not allow direct contact with animals
- Limits size of tour groups
- Does not train, break, or chain animals for any reason
Instead of supporting camps where animals are expected to work, support organizations that actively try to make animals’ lives better, with no strings attached:
Elephant Advocate 