1/5 Pauline B. 5 months ago on Google
We
were
here
as
one
stop
in
a
guided
tour.
When
booking
the
tour
in
our
hostel,
my
partner
and
I
had
stated
explicitly
that
we
didn't
want
to
go
to
a
place
of
elephant
riding/trecking
but
to
a
sanctuary
instead
(where
supposedly
they
offer
a
no
riding
bathing
adventure
with
elephants).
To
our
surprise
we
ended
up
here,
at
this
place.
It
was
all
very
rushed
and
confusing
to
me
and
when
our
guide
told
us
to
climb
on
the
elephant's
back
(directly
on
skin),
I
was
taken
by
surprise
and
just
did
as
I
was
told,
but
the
second
I
sat
down
I
realised
that
this
was
so,
so
wrong
and
I
actually
wanted
to
get
off.
But
the
elephant
was
already
moving,
that
was
a
bit
scary
and
I
had
to
focus
in
order
not
to
fall
off.
So
my
partner
and
I
went
along
with
it
and
did
as
we
were
told.
They
let
the
elephants
do
tricks,
even
throwing
people
into
the
water
with
their
trunks.
It's
very
entertaining
for
tourists
but
the
elephants
are
totally
degraded
to
an
extravagant
form
of
entertainment.
'Our'
elephant
was
so
obedient
and
did
exactly
as
she
was
told
by
the
guide...
From
what
I
know,
there
are
multiple
ways
of
teaching
animals
desired
behaviour
and
tricks,
ranging
from
ways
that
seem
ok
for
some
animals
such
as
positive
reinforcement
(e.
g.
give
treats
for
desired
behaviour)
to
positive
punishment
(apply
unpleasant
stimulus
to
discourage
undesired
behaviour).
The
elephants
at
this
place
didn't
seem
happy
at
all
and
I
think
teaching
methods
are
probably
chosen
for
efficiency
and
not
maximum
animal
welfare.
I
regret
having
participated
in
this
and
I
wish
I
had
had
the
present
of
mind
to
just
say:
'No,
I
don't
want
to
do
that'.
Elephants
are
highly
sensitive
creatures
and,
in
my
opinion,
Taweechai
Camp
is
not
a
good
place
for
them.
I
feel
ashamed
of
myself
for
taking
part
in
this
and
I
would
advise
anybody
who
genuinely
cares
for
elephants
not
to
support
this
form
of
animal
abuse.
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