Stop The Cruel Exploitation Of Elephants For Tourism

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Elephants endure brutal lives of pain and captivity for tourist entertainment—Stand up for these majestic animals and help end their suffering today.

Stop The Cruel Exploitation Of Elephants For Tourism

Elephants forced into the tourism industry endure unimaginable hardship. Many spend their lives carrying tourists through jungles, towns, and beaches in Southeast Asia, often without rest or medical care. Their bodies are not designed to support heavy loads. Yet, as young elephants, they’re subjected to brutal “training” known as phajaan, or “crushing,” where they’re isolated, beaten, and starved to break their spirit, making them submissive to human handlers1.

The Long-Term Damage is Irreversible

The long-term effects are devastating. Pai Lin, a 71-year-old elephant in Thailand, is a heartbreaking example. After 25 years of carrying tourists, her spine is permanently deformed from the heavy loads she endured2. Elephants like Pai Lin bear visible scars from their exploitation, while many others suffer silently, isolated and restrained by short chains in holding areas when they’re not working. Deprived of natural social interactions and unable to roam freely, these elephants exhibit signs of deep psychological distress, such as head-bobbing and swaying3.

A Law Waiting to be Enforced

While some travel companies have stopped promoting elephant rides, advertisements for these harmful attractions are still rampant in the UK. Recent data shows that over 1,200 companies marketed elephant rides to UK tourists in 2024 alone4. The UK government passed the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act to ban the advertisement of harmful animal attractions, including elephant rides, but enforcement delays have prevented this law from taking effect. Despite the legislation, elephants continue to be exploited daily for entertainment, fueling a cycle of cruelty sustained by tourist demand5.

Why We Must Act Now

The UK has long been a leader in animal welfare, and now we have an opportunity to set a powerful example worldwide. By listing elephant riding as a harmful attraction under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act, the UK can deter tourists from unknowingly supporting cruel practices, educate travelers on ethical alternatives, and shift demand toward compassionate tourism.

Make Compassionate Choices a Reality

This change is overdue, and these elephants cannot wait. When tourists choose experiences that don’t exploit animals, they send a message that cruelty is unacceptable. Sanctuaries that allow elephants to roam freely, interact naturally, and live without fear are already welcoming visitors who want to observe these animals ethically. These alternatives give elephants a life of dignity, and they show us how we can appreciate wildlife without causing harm.

Sign the Petition to Stop the Cruelty

Join us in urging the UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare to take action. Elephants deserve respect and care, not chains and suffering. Together, we can help ensure a future where these intelligent, social creatures are protected, not exploited.

Sign the petition today and be a voice for the voiceless.

More on this issue:

  1. Heather Chen, CNN (10 March 2023), "This is what years of tourist rides do to an elephant."
  2. Helena Horton, The Telegraph (23 September 2019), "Elephant riding on holiday should be banned, British travel companies told."
  3. Animals Asia, (1 March 2019), "The truth about elephant riding."
  4. James Tapper, The Guardian (20 October 2024), "Adverts for ‘cruel’ elephant rides still rising despite new UK law, says charity."
  5. UK Government (19 September 2023), "Legislation to clamp down on cruel animal experiences abroad."

The Petition

To the UK Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Biosecurity, Animal Health and Welfare,

We, the undersigned, respectfully urge you to take immediate action by officially listing elephant riding as a harmful animal attraction under the Animals (Low-Welfare Activities Abroad) Act. Elephants are majestic, intelligent creatures, yet they continue to suffer deeply within the tourism industry, where they are forced to carry tourists under extreme and painful conditions. These animals endure chronic physical and psychological suffering as a direct result of this exploitation. The demand for elephant rides subjects them to brutal training processes, daily physical strain, isolation, and deprivation.

This practice not only damages the elephants' bodies and spirits but also contradicts fundamental principles of compassion and respect for wildlife. The UK has demonstrated leadership in animal welfare, but to truly uphold these values, we must stand firmly against the promotion of attractions that inherently harm animals. Banning the advertisement and sale of elephant rides in the UK is a necessary and overdue step in achieving this.

By listing elephant riding as a harmful attraction, we will not only protect these vulnerable animals but also educate travelers, inspire ethical tourism, and send a clear message that the welfare of animals matters. This action will bring us closer to a future where our interactions with wildlife are guided by compassion, humanity, and respect.

Let's work together to ensure a better, more ethical future for all.

Sincerely,