Check the elephants' head for puncture wounds
Hooks are often misused by heavy handed or inexperienced
mahouts. Nails hidden in a closed fist are also common, causing bloodied wounds.
Make sure there is enough food for the elephant
Have a look at the elephants stabling area. Can you see any grass or fodder? Elephants in the wild forage for up to 20 hrs a day. Captive elephants should have access to clean fresh grass in a clean stable. Often food is thrown on the floor where the elephants also urinate and defecate, which they are obviously unable to eat. There should be an ample supply of food, so check to see if this is readily available.
Check the elephants have access to water and shade from the sun
Elephants suffer if exposed to too much sun and need up to 100 litres of water each day. In the wild, elephants would naturally shelter under trees in the hottest part of the day.
Check to see if the elephant enclosure is clean
Can you see dung in their stable or is there a strong smell of urine? Dung should be collected and disposed of, urine regularly washed away. Elephants, like all animals, like to be clean. This is also vital for preventing the spread of disease.
Look at the elephants’ disposition
Is the elephant flapping its ears and swinging its tail? A healthy elephant is constantly moving. They flap their ears to cool themselves down and swish their tail to keep flies away. If an elephant isn’t moving it is an indicator of ill health or sickness.
Is the elephant swaying frantically from side to side?
Elephants that have been chained for many hours and unable to walk freely often show signs of stereotypical behaviour. They rock from side to side, back and forth, sometimes swinging their legs in a very distressing manner. This is an indicator of stress, boredom and a lack of environmental enrichment.
Check the elephants’ dung.
The dung of a healthy elephant looks like large round solid lumps. They defecate between 6-8 balls each time. If the faeces is runny (diahorrea) the elephant is almost guaranteed to be sick and definitely should not be working.
Is the elephant on a short chain? Are both front feet chained?
When not giving rides, elephants are often on short chains. As explained above, this leads to boredom and stereotypical behaviour.
what to look for
TOURISTS TRAVELING TO ASIA
HAVE THE POWER TO INFLUENCE CHANGE
Please give polite constructive feedback to the manager of the facility if you do not like the conditions in which the elephants are kept.
This will allow the camp to re-evaluate and hopefully make improvements, knowing that tourists are becoming
conscious and concerned.
By improving welfare standards at camps we can help all the elephants, not just the ones lucky enough to live at a sanctuary. Many camps we have visited sadly overwork their elephants for financial gain. We have listed a few key points below so if you do visit a camp, you have a general idea of what to look for.
things to know before you go
Why are elephants used for trekking?
Income earned from elephant rides can support a mahout and their family and be essential for their livelihood. Many tourists still want to ride elephants and the camps cater to this demand. However, as detailed in our website, ethical alternatives are becoming increasingly popular. It's a lot more fun and rewarding to walk with an elephant than put a heavy chair on its back.
How many hours a day should an elephant work?
This depends on the temperature and terrain. Generally, an elephant should not walk at a brisk pace for more than 4 hours a day. If an elephant is overworked then there isn't enough time to eat, drink or take rest from the heat.
Are elephants designed to carry heavy weights?
An elephants back, albeit strong, is not designed to carry a 60 kg chair and up to 4 adults, and can often result in deformaties due to years of giving rides. They can also suffer from scarring and painful abscesses on their back, behind their front legs and under their tail.
Is it ok to walk up to an elephant on my own?
Absolutely NOT!! Always ask permission from a mahout. Even experts do not approach an elephant without the consent of a mahout who knows the elephants’ temperament. Captive elephants are still wild animals, and they are often dealing with physiological trauma. They can sometimes be aggressive and highly unpredictable even if feeding bananas. Elephants also don't like loud noises or quick movements so please be calm and quiet around them. Ensure the utmost caution for your own safety.
a guide to elephant camps