Asian countries are seeing a rise in tourists' desire for elephant encounters. Any venue that offers direct contact with elephants, whether through elephant selfies, elephant rides, circus tricks or performances, is more than likely complicit in unimaginable elephant cruelty. Tell your friends and family to never support cruel elephant tourism!

In order to supply this tourist demand, young elephants are kidnapped from their families, tied up, chained, and severely tortured by violent beatings and deprivation until their will is broken. This brutal training method is called the “crush”, or "phajaan" which means “to divorce the baby elephant from its spirit.” This is what is inflicted on elephants to make them dependant and terrified enough to follow every command of their “mahouts” (trainers), so that money can be made, and tourists can have their vacation thrill.

World Animal Protection (WAP) conducted a study that tracked over 3000 elephants in 220 venues in Asia and found over 75% of these elephants living in “severely cruel” conditions. Although leading the trend, Asia is not alone: the US and other countries are also complicit. Natural Bridge Zoo in Rockbridge County, Virginia, forces Asha, a 34 year old African elephant to give rides to paying customers. Nosey, another African elephant “owned” by Hugo Liebel, crippled with arthritis and joint disease, is also forced to give rides to paying customers despite nearly 200 USDA violations.

Awareness and education are essential! Tell your friends and your family that supporting any of these elephant encounters makes them complicit in cruelty!

Travellers and tourists must know the dark and soul crushing truth behind their elephant rides, selfies, and entertainment. Only support humane elephant environments like accredited sanctuaries and rescue centers where elephants are treated humanely and never exploited for profit.

Read More about WAP’s study here.