But dominance over the Earth’s largest land animal has a hidden side. Behind the scenes, elephant handlers sometimes employ surprisingly brutal methods. Beatings, starvation, electric shock and, if all else fails, months or years of isolation are among the tools used by some elephant handlers to control the animals.

The problem with keeping elephants in zoos is that their needs cannot be adequately met in a captive zoo environment. Consequently, the welfare of elephants kept in zoos is severely compromised. In addition, zoos cannot mimic the social structure that elephants need to thrive.

But the truth is riding elephants should be avoided. In the US, organizations, including the Humane Society of the US and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, are against riding elephants because of the abuse the animals undergo when they are taught to carry people, as well as safety concerns.

Like elephants used in the elephant trekking industry, young elephants used for painting must be broken and experience the pain of the phajaan process. Over this time baby elephants are starved, shackled, and beaten until their spirit is completely broken and will submit to the will of their captors.

In zoos, many animals are taken from their families and sent to other zoos, or killed when their group size exceeds the space allotted to them.

Elephants in captivity are denied everything that gives their life meaning. Many become neurotic, unhealthy, depressed, and aggressive as a result of the inhumane conditions in which they’re kept.

Why do they sway? Although there is no final answer on this, the most agreed-upon answer by elephant specialists is that elephants sway to shift their weight and be more comfortable.

Zoos argue that they are expanding and improving exhibits, and that elephants live better in captivity than in the wild with disease, drought, habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts with people.

You might see many articles that say riding elephants does not hurt the elephants. However, this is false. Many of the riding elephants we have rescued have spine problems and terrible wounds on their backs from carrying heavy loads.

Elephants love to bathe in water and play in the mud either on their own or with each other. To do this, they need space to splash, roll around, submerge, and cover themselves in mud.

15 years old
Elephant Suda in Thailand Suda is a 15 years old girl and has been painting for 10 years. She is responsible for raising thousands of dollars for our elephant hospital.

Elephant Park and Clinic
Painting By Elephant Suda | Style 1 Authentic paintings made by elephants at our Elephant Park and Clinic in Thailand.

Rather than using bullhooks, the handlers terrorized the elephants by jabbing them with short, sharp pokers to compel them to perform. Elephants were found with bleeding wounds on their temples and ears. The elephants were chained on concrete flooring, which often leads to debilitating foot and joint problems.

Tang Mo and San Mueang have spent years at Phuket Zoo, forced to ‘rave’ to music, ‘play’ musical instruments and perform an array of tricks for tourists’ amusement, whether it’s dancing or throwing basketballs. With the zoo facing closure due to the current pandemic, the two animals have been rescued by the Save Elephant Foundation.

A pair of performing elephants who have spent their lives performing cruel tricks at a Thai zoo have finally been rescued. Tang Mo and San Mueang have spent years at Phuket Zoo, forced to ‘rave’ to music, ‘play’ musical instruments and perform an array of tricks for tourists’ amusement, whether it’s dancing or throwing basketballs.

In addition to dying short of their natural life expectancy, elephants in captivity have high rates of painful and chronic health problems, such as nail cracks, abscesses, obesity, and arthritis. Please remove Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo from your tour itineraries immediately.