Chonburi, “Dr. Chang” reveals that a foreigner’s elephant camp business kicked out a doctor in Phuket province. It is an opportunity for Thai people to know that The concept of raising elephants in a beautiful world, ” no hook, no chain”, destroys the economic opportunities of Thai people. Free-range elephant camps or Sanctuary Parks usually select only very tame elephants, including young elephants, old elephants, and sick elephants. They charge a high entrance fee. They also established a foundation to raise money for donations as a way to earn money from the pity of foreigners.
Dr. Phadet Siridumrong or “Dr. Nueng” is a veterinarian at Noen Phlap Wan Animal Hospital. Bang Lamung District Chonburi Province, a veterinarian who has treated small animals, wild animals and elephants for 29 years, said the issue of foreigners coming to work at an elephant camp in Thailand has received widespread attention following the case of a foreigner attacking a female doctor in Phuket Province. Therefore, we want to give
this opportunity for Thai people to know the background of foreigners doing this type of business. By relying on the trend of the beautiful world abroad Especially European countries oppose traveling to Thailand. Especially if there is a program to visit the elephant camp which is considered It promotes animal cruelty because of using hooks to control elephants, using chains to tether them, or even sitting elephants on hooves or rods. Including riding elephants and letting elephants show off their special abilities are also viewed as It is elephant abuse.
European tourists’ opposition to visiting elephant camps in Thailand intensified even before the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, it is an opportunity for foreign businessmen to create a new trend in raising elephants, which is “no hook, no chain” or raising elephants freely. ” Sanctuary Park ” does not use hooks, does not chain, does not ride elephants because it does not support animal torture.
One doctor said Sanctuary Park , also known as semi-conservatio
n, will select only very tame elephants, young elephants, old elephants, skinny elephants, or chronically ill elephants. The more dilapidated the condition, The more money can be snatched out of pity, it is evident that only female elephants will be chosen. Do not raise male or ivory elephants. Admission fees and activities such as feeding the elephants and bathing the elephants It will be higher than the Thai elephant camp. He also set up a foundation to raise money to promote raising elephants without cruelty to animals. such characteristics It destroys the economic opportunities of Thai elephant camp operators.
From having gone to treat elephants in various camps around the country, it was found that in Sanctuary Park elephant camps that are said to be free-ranging, it appeared that during the day the chains were removed. Chained at night The owner of the camp may not have any elephants of his own. But using the method of renting an elephant The price is higher than the Thai elephant camp. From approximat
ely 10,000 – 30,000 baht per month, depending on the abilities of the elephants and activities in the camp. But foreign elephant camps will give as high as 40,000 – 50,000 baht per month to attract elephant owners.
There are many styles of raising elephants or making an elephant camp, such as show elephants, elephants pulling sticks. Elephants parade at the festival Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives The National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards (AMC) has issued a standard announcement for elephant camps, which has standard requirements for raising elephants according to the intended raising days. Considering all involved parts, including elephants, people working with elephants. and service users In addition, the Department of Livestock Development also supervises in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty and Animal Welfare Act.
Elephants deserve to be raised without abuse and with good welfare. But the world must not be too beautiful because an elephant weighs 4-5 tons. Not con
trolling the elephant at all. It can cause death to a person in the blink of an eye. Even many mahouts themselves have died. As for myself, who is a doctor When treating an unchained elephant If the bulldozer isn’t there I will definitely not go looking for an elephant. Since working Help save the lives of hundreds of elephants that are at high risk of death. You probably don’t have to say that How much does the doctor love and pity the elephants? But love must also be conscious because the doctor almost died many times.
One doctor reiterated that They did not attack the free-ranging elephant camp. If you have compassion to take care of thin, sick, or old elephants, it would be good. But you must not attack the elephant camp or people who raise elephants for other purposes. Giving elephants work, for example Putting on a show or participating in a parade is cruelty to animals. This is because the cost of raising each elephant is very high. But there is a law that states to work. What is called What is animal
cruelty and good animal welfare? As well as clearly specifying the use of elephants for each purpose such as Determine the size and weight of the elephant. Weight of the knob or tip Including the working hours each day, etc.
Source: Thai News Agency