Thailand
Thailand has more than 100 national parks, including 21 national marine parks. While visiting the parks and discovering the flora and fauna, it is highly important to consider our advice for responsible sightseeing.
Elephant camps and elephant rides
Unfortunately, 3800 from 5000 total Asian elephants of Thailand (we remind that it is considered a species in danger of extinction) are found in captivity, and the great majority of them are used for elephant rides and tourist camps where they are obliged to participate in humiliating shows, for example riding a tricycle, painting, playing football or basketball, dancing and even giving massages to the visitors.
The situation of the elephants used to beg in the streets of the main cities of the country (generally the calfs) is even more unsettling as these animals usually suffer from malnutrition, are obliged to spend whole days in an unnatural environment, far from other animals of their species and can become victims of traffic accidents. The animal welfare organizations all around the world have declared their position against the traditional Thai method of domestication of elephants, the “Pajaan”, which implies isolation and torture of these animals, ending with “breaking of their spirit” and making them obey the orders of man due to the fear of possible consequences. According to the NGO Elephant Family,every year around 50 to 100 elephant calfs are captured in Myanmar to supply the Thai elephant tourism industry, having to kill around 5 adult elephants for each calf. Fortunately, the country also has real rescue centers which do a great job and where it is possible to see these animals in their natural habitat and in semi-freedom state. However, to avoid encouraging the hunting, commerce and disappearance of Asian elephants, it is fundamental to inform yourself well before paying for any activity. See more information on this topic here and here, as well as this post and this one.
Animal shows
Orangutan fights
From the year 2005, approximately 22,000 orangutans have been sold, have died from hunts or captivity, as part of illegal trade. The illegal sale of animals to zoos or other attractions reports a huge economic benefit, however sacrificing the biodiversity of places like Africa and Southeast Asia. Among the objectives of this illegal orangutan trade is the tourist attraction of orangutan boxing. This activity is essentially done with animals illegally imported from Indonesia, which from the moment they arrive are subjected to tough training, which includes electric shocks and frequent beating to reach the desired training of these wild animals, which are in danger of extinction.
According to reports, during the shows the orangutans are dressed in traditional boxing clothes, are humiliated and forced to wear gloves and fight between each other in “fake fights” to entertain the tourists. The animals should pretend to fight with one another, though the animal activists insist that the chances of these heavy animals eventually hitting and hurting each other are very realistic. The winners are rewarded with food and other things, but ultimately, they all return to their dark cells where they live and are kept illegally.
The promotors of these shows justify themselves saying they have all the papers in order, but the truth is they refuse to give details about the origins of the orangutans. In the meantime, Thai police simply says that they cannot do absolutely anything about that. We highlight SAFARI WORLD, Klongsamwa, Thailand.
One of the destinations for these captured orangutans is this theme park, located in Klongsamwa in Bangkok, Thailand. The park began to be harshly criticized in 2004, when evidence was reported that orangutan fights are being organized for the enjoyment of tourists, and this information began to circle between animal protection groups. That year the government confiscated 48 orangutans and returned them to their home countries in Indonesia. In 2010, new images of orangutans fighting in a ring appeared and the animal rights activists renewed their charge against Safari World.
Nowadays this park still continues organizing these fights daily and is attended by numerous tourists and locals. Moreover it offers many more touristic activities which involve abuse and exploitation of wild animals.
Monkey actors
Although it is shocking to most of the Western visitors, it is a widespread activity among Thais, which do not see anything bad in dressing up monkeys and making them act. In Thailand, the monkey theatre company, directed by Panya Ganrobroo, has been “acting” for more than 30 years. The animals live all their lives in captivity and are trained to perform these shows. They are forced to be dressed up and even have make-up done, and do performances in which they have to sing, dance and even roll between knives. Although this activity seems to be slowly disappearing from the Thai society, the monkey theatre has been recognized as a historical asset of Thai culture because of its local roots, so it is very important that tourists do not attend this type of shows.
Elephant festivals
In Surin, northern Thailand, the “Surin Elephant Round Up Festival” is organized every November from 1960. The demonstration, which takes place in the outdoor stadium of Srinarong and is attended by a large number of tourists as well as locals, has 300 elephants as the main characters, which are painted, dressed up and have to perform in various shows and participate in a football tournament.
According the report “An assessment of the live elephant trade in Thailand” by Traffic and Elephant Family, this festival also usually involves illegally captured elephants as well as selling parts of these animals (bones, skin, hair, fangs and objects made from ivory) which are also suspected to come from illegal trade.
Moreover, every summer the “King´s Cup Elephant Polo” is organized by the Anantara hotel chain. This event, promoted as "solidary" and "beneficial" is actually another show in which animals trained with cruel methods are exhibited in anti-natural activities.
False sanctuaries and Tiger Temple
Thailand has a large number of animal centers and attractions which claim to exist for the benefit of conservation. However, appearances often deceive. Weak animal welfare laws and their lack of application imply that several of these animal centers define themselves as “sanctuaries” only to attract tourists. To satisfy the demand of tigers (especially white tigers) for these centers, the animals are often imported from other countries (e.g. Spain, USA). Such is the case of the Tiger Temple, the most famous and most controversial tiger center of the country, about which you can find a lot more information here and here.
Photos with wild animals
If you visit Thailand, it is very likely that you will have a chance to take a photo with a wild animal in exchange for money. Gibbons and slow lorises are the most popular animals in this case, and the majority of them were hunted in the forests of northern Thailand, live in deplorable conditions and usually die early. The places where you are most likely to fins these animals and their “caregivers” are the streets of Bangkok and the beaches of Koh Samui. For more information on this topic read here and here.
Zoos
The Thai zoos have a very bad reputation, and although not all of the cases are equally grave, the majority of their animals live in pitiful conditions. Tourists are highly advised not to visit and support this type of places. More information here.
Crocodile and snake farms?
In Thailand, there are various crocodile and snake farms, where many animals are usually kept in doubtful conditions and later slaughtered for the use of their skin. The water in their concrete pits is usually dirty and stagnant, and due to large numbers and a lack of environmental enrichment the animals get aggressive and attack each other. Due to this it is not unusual to see wounds, bites, missing tails and limbs and broken jaws in these animals. In many of these centers animals are also used for shows in which they are handled, provoked and harassed, as well as beaten with sticks, sat on, tied up and having their jaws or tails pulled. Among others, we note the Samutprakan Crocodile Farm and Zoo and the Phuket Cobra Show and Snake Farm. For more information read here and here.
Dolphinaria
Thailand has various dolphinaria which organize different types of shows with these animals. Both captivity and interactions with people are seriously detrimental to cetaceans and, as shown by the various accidents that have occurred over the years, forced contact with dolphins can also be dangerous for people. More information here and in SOS Delfines.
Stray animals
There are large numbers of stray animals in Thailand, which often live in very bad conditions. The stray cat and dog populations are controlled by unregulated mass slaughter which usually involves very cruel slaughter methods. If you find these animals, you can help them by giving them some food or water, but avoiding close contact with them in order to avoid contagious illnesses. Before traveling you can find the contacts of local animal protection NGOs to inform them in case you find very ill animals or victims of animal abuse, or in case you want to make a donation. More information.
Animals on the menu
One of the typical dishes of traditional Asian medicine is the pangolin fetus soup. The practitioners of this medicine believe that eating the fetus of this animal increase the virility in men.
The serious problem is that these animals only have one young per litter, and the growing demand of this meat has led to an uncontrolled hunting of these animals which are currently on the verge of extinction. More information about typical dishes with animals’ products here.
Sea turtles
Around 50 years ago, Thailand´s Southern Andaman coast was a prosperous area for nesting sea turtles. From December to March these animals used to lay their eggs in large numbers, but the situation has been changing with time.
There are many reasons why the number of sea turtles has diminished. Excessive fishing and overdevelopment along the coast due to Thailand´s growing popularity as a holiday destination has led to a reduction of nesting habitats. In addition to all of that we must mention poachers who collect eggs and sell them in the markets.
In 2003 the organization WARF established the Sea Turtle Conservation Project at Baan Talae Nork, in the Ranong Province of Thailand. Baan Talae Nork is a small, traditional fishing village, untouched by tourism, with 6 kilometers of pristine beach that was, until recently, a sea turtle nesting zone. As its objective, the Sea Turtle Conservation Project seeks to reduce the threats for sea turtles in the beaches on the coast, before they disappear from the zone completely. The main goals of the project are: to search for new nests in the beaches, participate in local education and help with data collection. Working with Ranong Coastal Resources Research Station, the project also takes care of injured turtles and releases them back to the sea when it is possible. In the last years, thanks to this project, the number of sea turtles and their nests has started growing.
Monkeyland?
Lopburi is a province in central Thailand, which is situated about 154 kilometers north from Bangkok. The most famous characteristic of Lopburi is its monkeys. The long tailed macaques have been residents of Lopburi long before human settlements, and nowadays large numbers of them live in the old town. This coexistence between humans and monkeys has made the city known as the “monkeyland” between tourists.
In the past, Lopburi was a forested region and provided sufficient habitat for the monkey population. Human settlements and development, nevertheless, caused an important loss of their natural habitat. As a consequence, humans and monkeys face a growing conflict over living space and food resources.
Currently there are three groups of macaques that live in three separate areas and there is insufficient food to sustain their population, so they are forced to steal from people or search the garbage, dirtying the streets.
With an attempt to reduce these ever growing problems between humans and monkeys, the organization WARF has launched a program to provide food supplies for the macaques. The tourists who visit this zone can contact the association to learn how to help and what type of food is the best to provide for these animals, and in general should maintain a safe distance and not overwhelm the monkeys.
Here is a list of local NGOs that can be contacted in case you want to make a donation, a complaint or find an animal that needs help in Thailand:?
Noistar animal rescue foundation
Thai Society for the prevention of cruelty to animals
Bird Conservation Society of Thailand (BCST)
If you want to report a crime against wildlife you can contact: Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division, Royal Thai Police 1136 / Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation 1362
Recommended rescue centers and projects:
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary
Burm and Emily's Elephant Sanctuary
The Wild Animals Rescue Foundation of Thailand (WARF)
Baan Unrak Thai Animal Sanctuary
More information about Thailand, animals and tourism in this World Animal Protection report.
