Short chained on concrete without shade, prodded and poked with bullhooks to give tourists gruelling rides. Will you help end elephant suffering?
Misleading marketing disguises a lifetime of trauma
Contrary to popular belief, the captive breeding of elephants in entertainment venues does not have any genuine benefit to conservation.
Such breeding and use of captive elephants in tourism is a lucrative business, driven by tourist demand and commerce.
While Mason Elephant Park and Lodge claims to be Bali’s “only dedicated elephant rescue facility,” their last rescue was in 2004, and captive breeding has been occurring at the park since then.
As a tourism-focussed business, it is highly unlikely that any of their elephants born in captivity will ever be released into the wild.
New report reveals harmful holidays
Our latest ‘Holidays that Harm' report reveals the heartbreaking plight of the elephants at this venue and that of 1,300 other wild animals observed across 34 venues in Bali and Lombok.
While we all have a responsibility to do our research before going to a captive wildlife entertainment venue on our holiday, “humane washing” and other misleading marketing strategies have made it difficult to gain reliable and trusted recommendations from venues and travel companies.
Travel companies and tour operators have a crucial role to play in ensuring wild animals do not suffer cruel training regimes and low welfare living conditions for tourist entertainment. They must act responsibly and stop the sale of wildlife encounters, performances and accommodation in places that house wild animals. And when travel companies have robust animal welfare policies in place, tourists have the information they need to make holiday choices that align with their values.
Image credit: Andito Wasi
You can help end elephant suffering
You may be surprised to know that elephants, too, can experience post-traumatic stress disorder.
Unfortunately, they are often “tamed” using inhumane methods like chaining, jabbing with sharp bullhooks and isolation to make them submit to activities such as riding or bathing, which can traumatise them for a lifetime.
Right now, your action can help put an end to the misery and trauma of the elephants at this park. Forever.
Will you be part of the reason that no elephant ever suffers such a cruel fate in the name of tourism?
