Tourists touching and photographing elephants

Elephants suffer a lifetime of horror for a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday experience

Elephants are not entertainers

Want to see elephants on holiday? You’re not alone. But did you know that captive elephants, like many other wild animals around the world are facing a lifetime of suffering, just to entertain tourists?

If you can hug, ride, touch or take a photo with a wild animal, the chances are it has suffered some kind of cruelty.

The reality of elephant tourism

Last year, our undercover footage exposed the hidden reality of the physical and psychological trauma that elephants are put through for tourist entertainment – a lifetime of horror for a ‘once in a lifetime’ holiday experience.

Warning: The video contains distressing content.

This video makes for very difficult viewing. It includes eight young elephants being:

Forcibly taken from their mothers
Tied to wooden structures while beaten repeatedly
Walking hobbled in chains

You can find out more about captive elephants in tourism in our latest report:

Elephants. Not Commodities.

Changing the world, together

While the world has been in lockdown due to COVID-19, we have been continuing our work to protect wild animals from cruelty in the name of entertainment.

We are working with governments, tourist venues and travel companies in order to end the cruel practices in elephant tourism.
So far, over 200 travel companies across the world have taken our pledge to no longer sell venues that allow elephant rides.
We are working with two elephant venues in Thailand, ChangChill and Following Giants. These venues no longer allow close interactions with elephants but are observation-only, meaning visitors can watch the elephants foraging, grazing, socialising and just being elephants.
With tourism having come to a halt due to the COVID-19 crisis, many high-welfare elephant venues in Asia have been struggling to care for their elephants. With help from our wonderful supporters, we have been able to help a number of venues provide food and medical care for their elephants during this difficult time.

You can help change the story for wild animals in tourism by researching tourist venues before you visit to ensure that your tourism money is not funding animal cruelty.

Remember, if you can hug, ride, touch or take a photo with a wild animal, the chances are it has suffered some kind of cruelty.

Become part of the community

Join thousands of animal lovers fighting to protect wildlife and give farmed animals good lives. Sign up now for emails with ways you can help.