Elephant farm operators defend accusations from foreign media

Elephant farm operators defend accusations from foreign media

BANGKOK: Elephant farm operators across the country have held a conference to defend themselves against accusations made by foreign media affecting their business. They are set to file legal charges to protect themselves and the elephants.

tourismanimals
By National News Bureau of Thailand

Wednesday 7 August 2019, 12:44PM

The operators said the published article has resulted in negative effects and widespread criticism. Photo: NNT

Elephant farm operators from many provinces in Thailand have held a press conference regarding an article, recently published by the New Zealand Herald, alleging cruel treatment of elephants in the Thai elephant tourism sector, showing pictures of scars from physical abuse on the elephant’s forehead.

The operators said the published article has resulted in negative effects and widespread criticism, leading to the press conference yesterday (Aug 6), held to elaborate on facts about elephant farms and elephant tourism in Thailand.

It was stressed that the business should not be distorted by foreign media who wish to sabotage the Thai tourism industry through their lack of understanding of elephant farms and mahout practices in Thailand.

Read original report here.

Kurt | 10 August 2019 - 21:34:07

Thailand for years 'worked' on getting/confirming world wide a very bad image about animal cruelty. Buddhist monk tiger temples ( tigers drugged/disappearing for body parts sales), Zoo's drugging tigers for photo shooting. Bad concrete accommodations.  Intelligent Elephants mistreated by brainless heartless people for the sake of money.  Very bad.

Christy Sweet | 10 August 2019 - 15:02:10

Google "Phajaan" which is Thais tying up baby elephants and beating them as "training"  and then tell me it's not savage.

ematt | 09 August 2019 - 18:04:51

Tying up babies and beating them? Thai savages? Someone needs to get a grip....

Christy Sweet | 09 August 2019 - 12:20:37

Tying babies up and beating them  is just not something the international community is  going to accept- if it's made public. Maybe Thailand  should reconsider having tourists come if Thais want to be left alone to behave like savages.

Rorri_2 | 08 August 2019 - 15:25:59

How stupid can they be... now they risk bring more, international attention to their barbaric industry.   Truly, the elephants do have more brains, than all this retarded group... together.

BenPendejo | 08 August 2019 - 10:43:47

Oh brother, typical that these people band together, like the taxi mafia banding together to demand more money for their quality service. Elephants are simply a financial asset to these people, and there is no un-cruel method to train them for their stupid shows. I'm glad to hear that elephant cruelty in Thailand is getting international attention...keep it up!

Timothy | 08 August 2019 - 09:06:22

"Set to file legal charges to protect themselves and the elephants"....Oh brother...Charges should be brought against them on behalf of the elephants. Being chained all day in the hot sun. Having to haul stupid tourists around and pose for pictures. These idiots are either too greedy or too stupid to see that most people don't think this is the proper way to treat elephants.

carol | 07 August 2019 - 22:43:32

unfortunately what the group does not seem to understand is that the media is not trying to harm tourism, instead the media is speaking for the tourists who do not endorse the way elephants are trained, managed and used in Thailand. If Thailand wishes to continue to use elephants to generate revenue, these providers will need to change how their ways. If not they will destroy tourism in Thailand.

Kurt | 07 August 2019 - 13:50:06

These farm operators should make themselves familiar with civilised foreign animal treatment anno 2019 before attacking foreign media that addresses elephant cruelty in Thailand. Foreign media will be just encouraged in their civilized stand.  The banner "Elephant is our priority" should be replaced by " Money making is our priority".