Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation: Recent Comments

Comment on Now give me back my dog... (or, to put it another way, what does your consultant do?)

Dr Nuntanee Satiensukpong — 2010-07-25T00:35:14Z

...here are some photographs from the Thai Elephant Therapy Project for Autistic Children, our first weekend clinics that K. Prasop helped with at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre:

Comment on Finally: Food fit for a Prince of the Ancient Line (belatedly living up to our responsibilities).

barcelona shirt — 2010-07-19T13:45:14Z

This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw.Thanks for posting this informative article.

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

Fox News — 2010-07-17T05:11:37Z

Don’t feed the elephants in Bangkok

July 14, 2010 - 12:27 PM | by: David Piper

It was once so common to see elephants on the streets of this city but with the new crackdown they have become very rare.

I went out today to try to find out if there were any elephants left in the Thai capital, but sadly I couldn’t find one.

The tourists loved them and in truth I loved seeing them.

What could be more unique than living in a city in which an elephant could be around the next corner.

But the Bangkok authorities have had enough of these intelligent beasts. They say they are a danger to the public and make the city untidy.

They didn't have much success recently, though, in trying to stop their owners from bringing them in.

There is good money to be made from selling bananas to tourists or the Thai public to feed their beast.

In fact the fines were so small it didn't deter them at all.

Some owners even it seems were prepared to transport baby elephants around in trucks to the different tourist hotspots in search of a buck.

Now in their wisdom the Bangkok authorities have chosen to target tourists instead.

A fine of $300 would put off most people from feeding an elephant.

But if you want to encounter elephants on a trip to Thailand it is still possible and you won't be fined.

I traveled just outside Bangkok to the ancient city of Ayutthaya where there are plenty of them available to feed and ride.

And it seems they are taken care of.

That is really the point. Many of the elephants that come to Bangkok have a terrible life.

They are forced to make their way through Bangkok's busy traffic to beg for a living in tourist areas.

Many fall down drains and get injured.

Animal rights groups are right in saying its wrong to force such intelligent animals to beg on the streets.

They want now to extend this ban to all other Thai cities.

It raises a larger issue though.

Elephants are synonymous with Thailand. If you ban them except from authorized enterprises then their population here is likely to fall because owners can’t afford to keep them.

Many are brought in from poorer areas when not needed for logging. If they can’t make money from them then it seems unlikely they will be kept in such large numbers in Thailand.

And that would be a great pity because to me the elephant, or Chang, as they are known here make Thailand special.

I can live without them on the streets of Bangkok because I know its not good for them but Thailand must find a way for the elephant to prosper here or they will miss them when they are gone.

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

John Roberts — 2010-07-14T01:21:01Z

...incidentally, this blog first spotted the 'new' practice by business mahouts of putting painfully young, early separated baby elephants in the back of domestic pick-ups to evade capture in 2007.

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

The Daily Telegraph — 2010-07-14T01:11:18Z

Thailand to fine people feeding elephants

Thailand authorities have said anyone caught feeding elephants in the capital faces a £212 (10,000 baht) fine.

An elephant and mahout begging in the red-light district of Bangkok Photo: ALAMY

Thailand has about 2,400 domestic elephants. There is little demand these days for the animals' traditional skills in logging and other labour, so owners sometimes loan them out for begging from tourists and locals in major cities.

"The ordinance is issued to prevent untidiness or danger toward properties and lives of Bangkok residents," said Manit Techa-apichoke, deputy director of the City Law Enforcement Department, adding there had been cases of elephants hurting people and falling into drains.

Friends of the Asian Elephant, a Thai nongovernment group which cares for injured or mistreated elephants, called the fines a good start.

"I've been asking for them to do this for 15 years," said its founder, Soraida Salwalla, adding that she hoped other Thai cities would follow suit. "It's not the total solution, but it's a help."

Previously, mahouts – as elephant handlers are known – and their accomplices were fined for bringing an elephant into Bangkok, but those feeding the animal escaped punishment. Typically a tourist would pay 20 baht (£0.41) for the privilege of handing a bunch of fruit or vegetables into the elephant's trunk.

Manit said those caught feeding the animals would be fined, though they may get slapped with a warning first.

He said authorities had caught 30 elephants in Bangkok the past four months, but none since the new ordinance came into effect on July 1, although handlers were finding ways to circumvent the crackdown.

"Mahouts have adopted a new tactic of using baby elephants and taking them from place to place on a pickup truck," he said. "They now work in the suburbs, instead of camping right in the heart of the city as they used to."

Comment on The ordination of a guru (a chance for Bo & Makam to gain merit)

Londell — 2010-07-09T02:51:46Z

I don't know why, but I felt touched by reading this post. I felt like crying, but tears of joy. Ever since leaving Thailand, I feel as though I have left a part of my heart there, especially when I think back on the Buddhist teachings that were shared with us.

Thank you for allowing us to reconnect!

Comment on A cultural experience and perhaps a chance to talk elephants in London.

John Roberts — 2010-07-08T01:08:02Z

Great spying Mike - that's a great result for the wild elephants of Asia & I'm proud Anantara had a chance to help.

Comment on A cultural experience and perhaps a chance to talk elephants in London.

Mike Thompson — 2010-07-07T20:58:24Z

Unfortunately we could not get to London in time to see Little Bird in situ - but we did keep an eye on the bid price when she came up for auction. She made an incredible £10,250 for the asian elephant charities - a fantastic result.

In total, an amazing £4,148,675 was raised during the event!

Comment on Ruby Wax to Rudy Maxa (more multimedia - set your VCR)

christian — 2010-07-02T23:46:45Z

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Comment on Good Luck America - Thailand's elephant beer is coming to town...

best restaurant — 2010-06-30T07:54:23Z

now thailand beer is coming in america . the wait is over .now the americans are drinks thailand beer . so you can also add restaurant ..thanks for your this great blog ....

Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation: Recent Comments

Comment on Now give me back my dog... (or, to put it another way, what does your consultant do?)

Comment on Finally: Food fit for a Prince of the Ancient Line (belatedly living up to our responsibilities).

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

Don’t feed the elephants in Bangkok

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

Comment on Jerking knees or dancing to a sub-sonic tune? (on a seeming raft of new laws and initiatives)

Thailand to fine people feeding elephants

Thailand authorities have said anyone caught feeding elephants in the capital faces a £212 (10,000 baht) fine.

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Comment on The ordination of a guru (a chance for Bo & Makam to gain merit)

Comment on A cultural experience and perhaps a chance to talk elephants in London.

Comment on A cultural experience and perhaps a chance to talk elephants in London.

Comment on Ruby Wax to Rudy Maxa (more multimedia - set your VCR)

Comment on Good Luck America - Thailand's elephant beer is coming to town...