Welfare assessment and activities of captive elephants in Thailand
Open accessAbstract
Thailand is the epicenter of elephant tourism and visiting an elephant camp is a popular activity according to the Tourist Authority of Thailand. However, the welfare of these elephants has been questioned by animal activist groups, international tour operators, and the public. Conclusions that the vast majority of captive elephants are abused often are based on anecdotal evidence and not solid science. So, it is difficult to tease apart emotion, opinion, and fact with regard to what practices are good or bad for elephant welfare. The aim of this paper was to: 1) describe the unique status of captive elephants in Thailand and associated regulations, 2) summarize current issues and challenges facing elephant tourism, 3) review studies conducted on welfare of tourist elephants in Thailand, and 4) offer recommendations for how elephants can be properly cared for under captive conditions in tourist camps. We conclude there are many ways to manage these elephants, and that not all tourist activities are bad for welfare. However, it is essential they be managed in a way that meets physical, physiological and psychological needs, and that management decisions are based on objective data.
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Accredited facilities are considered to provide a higher level of care than other elephant-holding facilities.
“are considered to provide a higher level of care than other elephant-holding facilities (Bansiddhi et al., 2020).”
From Continuing challenges of elephant captivity: the captive environment, health issues, and welfare implications (2024) · cites this paper as Bansiddhi et al., 2020
Section 3 (Challenges Facing Elephant Tourism; page not provided) says accredited zoos receive guidance on best practices, but cautions that guidelines alone do not guarantee good welfare. Section 6.3 (Development of Camp Standards; page not provided) describes certification intended to improve care. Neither section says accredited facilities provide a higher level of care than other elephant-holding facilities. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMany issues explored in the review (e.g., stereotypy) are common to captive elephants around the world.
“many of the issues we explore here (e.g., stereotypy) are common to captive elephants around the world (Vanitha, Thiyagesan & Baskaran, 2016;Bansiddhi, Brown & Thitaram, 2020;Bansiddhi et al., 2020;Fuktong et al., 2021).”
From Continuing challenges of elephant captivity: the captive environment, health issues, and welfare implications (2024) · cites this paper as Bansiddhi et al., 2020
Many issues explored in the review (e.g., stereotypy) are common to captive elephants around the world.
“many of the issues we explore here (e.g., stereotypy) are common to captive elephants around the world (Vanitha, Thiyagesan & Baskaran, 2016;Bansiddhi, Brown & Thitaram, 2020;Bansiddhi et al., 2020;Fuktong et al., 2021).”
From Continuing challenges of elephant captivity: the captive environment, health issues, and welfare implications (2024) · cites this paper as Bansiddhi, Brown & Thitaram, 2020
WAP assumptions are subjective, raising questions about their validity without considering how the activities are conducted.
“However, those assumptions are subjective, raising questions about their validity without considering how the activities are conducted (97).”
From Comparison of animal welfare assessment tools and methodologies: need for an effective approach for captive elephants in Asia (2024) · cites this paper as [97]
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References 75 · Cited by 52
Research works printed but not linked: 5
- [7]Nijman V. An Assessment of the Live Elephant Trade in Thailand TRAFFIC International Cambridge, UK 2014
- [41]Bansiddhi P. Management Factors of Elephant Camps Affecting Health and Welfare of Elephants Ph.D. Thesis Chiang Mai University Chiang Mai, Thailand 1 3 2019
- [47]Mellor D.J. Patterson-Kane E. Stafford K.J. The Sciences of Animal Welfare Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Oxford, UK 2009
- [66]Kurt F. Garai M. Stereotypies in Captive Asian Elephants—A Symopsium of Social Isolation, A Research Update on Elephants and Rhinos Proceedings of the International Elephant and Rhino Research Symposium Vienna, Austria 7–11 June 2001 57 63
- [98]Srikrachang M. Managing of Human-Elephant Conflict in Thailand: Governmental Perspectives Proceedings of the 15th Congress of FAVA Bangkok, Thailand 27–30 October 2008 107 108
- Authors
- Bansiddhi, P., Brown, J. L., & Thitaram, C.
- Affiliations
- Chiang Mai University (TH)
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Thitaram, Chatchote
- Venue
- Animals
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2020-05-26
- Volume
- 10
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 919
- ISSN
- 2076-2615 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC7341207
- OpenAlex
- W3030942976
- Cited by
- 52
- References
- 75
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 1.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- dx.doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Animals (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Ecology › Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Keywords
- captive elephants, elephant welfare, elephant tourism, tourist camps, Thailand, animal welfare assessment, animal welfare legislation, animal welfare science, animal cruelty
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