Elephant riding has been banned worldwide due to the inhumane treatment of the animals and the harsh training elephants endure to work with tourists.
Now, facilities that offered these types of experiences are beginning to transform to a different, humane model that still provides interaction for visitors.
A 2017 Kantar global poll showed a drop of 9 percent (to 44 percent) in the number of people who find elephant riding acceptable compared to just three years ago, and tour operators have been striving for more humane conditions for elephants and have reached an agreement with an elephant camp to transform the venue into one that is friendly to these majestic creatures.
In an agreement reached between Happy Elephant Care Valley, in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and animal welfare charity, World Animal Protection, part of a coalition of leaders in the travel industry, including TUI Group, The Travel Corporation (TTC), Intrepid Group, G Adventures, EXO Travel, Thomas Cook Group, the organization will move to end all physical interaction between tourists and elephants at the camp.
Happy Elephant Care Valley houses elephants that were previously used on farms and at riding camps. The facility offered close interaction between tourists and the elephants at the venue through rides, bathing and feeding sessions. However, this is changing after the coalition of travel industry partners presented evidence that tourism based on the friendly treatment of these animals is rising.
Now, visitors will be able to see the elephants behaving as they would in the wild; free to roam the valley, graze and bathe in rivers as tourists watch from a safe distance.
"Through the support of the world's leading travel companies we are proving that elephant-friendly venues, those without forced and dangerous interactions with wildlife, make both ethical and financial sense for camp owners," said Josey Kitson, executive director at World Animal Protection Canada.
"Happy Elephant Care Valley's move is a huge step forward for both elephants and ethical tourists," added Kitson. "It will provide an incredible opportunity for the growing number of tourists who want a positive experience seeing elephants behaving naturally and freely as part of a herd."
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