The appalling cruelty inflicted upon Asian elephants used for tourist rides is now spreading throughout southern Africa, reveals World Animal Protection in a report launching today (Tuesday, 15 September).
The report highlights the rise of elephant rides in southern Africa; a tourist attraction that is already well established in parts of Asia.
Elephant rides are a popular and lucrative tourist activity, but behind the scenes the animals are taken from their mothers, their spirit is broken, and they endure cruel and stressful ‘training’ to make them tolerate being ridden. If not addressed urgently hundreds more African elephants could face a lifetime of cruel confinement, beatings and other harsh treatment, all for tourist entertainment.
The current situation in Africa:
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The first tourist elephant rides in Africa started almost 20 years ago
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There are now at least 36 commercial elephant venues, holding 215 captive elephants, operating across Southern Africa
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Most parks are in South Africa, where at least 126 captive elephants are held in at least 22 different venues
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A further 47 are held in seven elephant parks across Zimbabwe, 13 in two venues in Zambia and 11 elephants in two venues in Botswana.
The numbers of wild elephants have increased since the beginning of the 20
th century. However, the poaching of elephants to meet the growing tourist demand, in addition to poaching for ivory, could put them under even more strain.
Gajender Sharma, Country Director at World Animal Protection India says: “African elephants are the biggest land animals in the world and many tourists want to see them. But the spread of elephant rides for tourists is putting them under more strain. More calves are being taken from the wild, away from their mothers to be sold and cruelly trained and abused for the tourism industry. “We’re asking tour operators to sign our Elephant-Friendly Tourist Pledge, and to stop selling elephant rides and shows. We’re exposing the cruelty behind the scenes of elephant rides in Africa so that tourists who love animals, choose to not ride elephants and see them in the wild. By taking action now, we can put a stop to tourist elephant cruelty in Africa before it’s too late.” World Animal Protection has been working hard to end the appalling suffering of elephants involved in the riding industry because it’s Wildlife. Not Entertainers. 
Photo Caption:Elephants at dawn in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania. World Animal Protection believes that wild animals should be left in the wild and not used for our entertainment 
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