Elephants and Tigers (no bears), oh my.
 

Good morning

Home from Paris and now I need to knuckle down about Thailand.

Two of the things I would like to fit in include an elephant ride (just one day, not a trek) as well as possibly visiting a tiger sanctuary. I will be in Chiang Mai as well as driving the Mae Hong Son loop.

I will also be in Bangkok but the visit there is broken up (beginning and ending) and the timing probably isn't going to work well to include that while in BKK.

Any tips regarding the above would be appreciated. Thank you.

There is no sanctuary for tigers in Thailand. In fact, if you care about tigers, don't go any place where they are on display.

In terms of elephants, most of the popular places people go abuse the elephants. Go to the number 1 rated place of TA and you'll be able to see gashes from hooks used. If you are interested in how the elephants are treated, let me suggest the Elephant Nature Park. Any place you consider, read the reviews by animal welfare groups.

Thailand really isn't the place to go to see wildlife.

Hire tong to take you to both places outside bangkok

Second Kathie's suggestion of Elephant Nature Park. After visiting there, you will NEVER want to ride an elephant. It's a magical place. I highly recommend going there. ENP will provide transportation for you to get there.

Thank you, I have already emailed the ENP. There is another one I found on one of Kathie's threads and I emailed them as well.

Who is Tong, please? How do I find him?

Tong is a guide in Bangkok. She takes people to the Tiger Temple, which is a place I don't recommend. Google it and you'll see what the controversies are.

I think Tong will tailor trips to suit the client, but she's difficult to track down by e-mail. Lots and lots of info on her services on TA, but she is just one of many tour operators.

Many trips are easily done independently at a fraction of the cost. They just need a bit of planning.

Tigers are all drugged! Elephants are ALL abused at trekking camps! Riding is the worse thing for it's back! All boneset,

Elephant Nature Park is the real deal beautiful park,chain free, no beatings, just
Eles being Eles. All rescued Elephants from trekking camps!

There are No laws for animals in Thailand at all!

Google the Crush on Elephants! Starved, beaten, with hooks,blinded. I can go on and on.
All about the tourist dollar.

P.S. There is no real Sanctuary's for Tigers in Thailand!
Money making tourist traps! Especially the one in Chang Mai!

Basically if a place if offering elephant rides they are mistreating the animals to some event or another.

Thailand has no laws that govern the welfare and treatment of wildlife. There is a bill somewhere in the pipeline, but I'm pretty sure it hasn't become law yet.

Thailand's record on animal welfare/exploitation is to say the least, dreadful.......... paying to see or "pet" animals, regardless of species is likely to contribute to further exploitation.

It is EXTREMELY difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff when it comes to animal extablishments in Thailand.....approach with care and a whole load of skepticism

this thread sals with the issues around riding elephants.

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-358631-2.cfm

If you are thinking for elephant riding, take a look at this..

http://www.adventuretravelnews.com/i...elephant-rides

I would recommend avoiding using tour operators who offer tours of these attractions - they are complicit in making money out of abuse of wildlife.
If you DO end up going to these places - read up on the issues first - you can't see much in a visit that only lasts a few hours and they are designed to impress the casual visitor. however if you are genned up on how these places operate you may start to pick up on a few tell-tale signs of how they are exploiting the animals and disregarding all conservation and welfare concerns.

Thank you again everyone

If I visit the elephants, it will be at the ENP. I am not sure I will have time, now, as the only day I think I can fit it in would be the day I drive to Pai and I still need to sort out if it is in the right general direction or not.

All tour company's as well as taxi drives get a big fat commission for taking you to where they suggest!
Do NOT listen to these people it's all about money!Not the welfare of any animal in Thailand!

Visit the Elephant Nature Park if you don't want to add to the suffering of these poor souls!

I agree. A big yes to the Elephant Nature Park. It's still not the entirely natural life vision Lek and her workers envision for these animals, but it's bliss compared to their former lives trekking, logging and performing for tourists.

Thank you for your comments and for educating people on the abuse the elephants endure!

HURRAY FOR ENP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not really an issue of being nice to one or two animals - this is part of a national (and subsequently worldwide) problem. The attitude to animals may be cruel and un-empathetic, but is also disregards the overall situation, that of the Thai natural environment.
at present Thailand is showing no sign of improving their s=disastrous reord on wildlife and conservation.
Next month they have to report again to CITES who are requiring action over the IVORY trade - Thailand essentially has done nothing - this may well result in trade sanctions against the Kingdom.
They have failed to act over the imminent extinction of Tigers in Thailand, the tiger temple and its misleading manifestos, possibly illegal involvement in the endangered wildlife trade.
there is STILL no modern legislation to protect wildlife - only a half-hearted bill to protect domesticated animals.
Just about anyone can set up a park or zoo and make whatever claims they like with impunity.
No effort is made to educate the general public, and every effort is made to obfuscate when it comes to tourism.