Sangduen "Lek" Chailert plays with ex-working elephants at her
rescue centre for domesticated elephants in Chiang Mai, northern
Thailand on November 19. 2007. Elephant conservationists such as
Chailert worry that captive elephants, considered beasts of burden
in Thailand, have little protection from abuse if their owners work
them all day to bring in more tourist dollars.
Sangduen "Lek" Chailert plays with an ex-working elephant at her
rescue centre for domesticated elephants in Chiang Mai, northern
Thailand on November 19, 2007. Elephant conservationists such as
Chailert worry that captive elephants, considered beasts of burden
in Thailand, have little protection from abuse if their owners work
them all day to bring in more tourist dollars.
Two Asian elephants push their trunks over a stadium barrier and
into the crowd at Thailand's largest elephant festival in the
northeast town of Surin on November 17, 2007. Elephant
conservationists worry that captive elephants, considered beasts of
burden in Thailand, have little protection from abuse if their
owners work them all day to bring in more tourist dollars.
Sangduen "Lek" Chailert plays with ex-working elephants at her
rescue centre for domesticated elephants in Chiang Mai, northern
Thailand on November 19. 2007. Elephant conservationists such as
Chailert worry that captive elephants, considered beasts of burden
in Thailand, have little protection from abuse if their owners work
them all day to bring in more tourist dollars.
Super strength chains bind the front legs of a bull Asian
elephant together to prevent it attacking people while in "musth"
at the Surin Elephant Round-up Festival in northeast Thailand
November 17, 2007. Musth, a recurring period of heightened
aggression, affects all male elephants for several weeks every
year. Elephant conservationists worry that captive elephants,
considered beasts of burden in Thailand, have little protection
from abuse if their owners work them all day to bring in more
tourist dollars.
(China Daily via Agencies, December 24, 2007)
