Unharnessed elephants never cry

Common Mistreatment of elephants in Thailand
Originally uploaded by Asia Trip2007.

At the river crossing, we sat and watched, literally, 90 elephants walking through the rivers carrying 3-4 people on the benches strapped to their wide wrinkley backs. Around the neck the Mahout's legs dangled on either side prodding directions using their feet on the backs of the elephants ears and screaming calls. If a slow sauntering elephant didn't pay attention immediately or wandered off the strict course a large hook, carried by the mahout, would be dug into the face or fiercely brought down on the top of their heads or hit into the sensitive parts of the ear as shown here.

I watched as tears would pour out of the elephants eyes but the command would be quickly followed as the elephant understood from previous encounters, that any misbehaviour would mean harsh punishments out of the public eye.

Elephants are beautiful, thoughtful beings that are ranked as some of the smartest animals in the world, up there with dolphins and some primates. They know what is going on, but don't have the power to do anything about it. We do though, and I am so happy I got to be with them so closely for an amazing week of care. People who don't want to go a week, can visit Elephant Nature Park for a day and see elephants without cages, without hooks or beatings, and get to feed them an amazing lunch of fresh fruit and veggies, bath with them and watch them wrestle in the mud. A much more amazing experience than sitting on their backs (the weakest part of their structure) for the day.