The Psychological and Physical Effects of Tourism on Asian Elephants

Kaylee Carr, Kaylee Clovis, Clare Keogh, Angel Magana, Aleaha Tussing

Abstract Psychological and Physical Effects Knowledge Limits

Asian Elephants have been subject to tourism in Asia for many ● There is limited knowledge as to the best solutions for captive
● In Thailand, they use a process called "PHA JAAN," which translates PIGE; it indicates crush. Crush is a method done
years, which has caused psychological and physical effects. These elephants in Asian countries as increased regulations or
on baby elephants (Geographic, National 2019)
elephants are forced to go through abusive training in order to decreased tourism could cause many individual elephants to be
● Caroline Williams declares that these elephants are dwelling with (PTSD) post-traumatic stress disorder Experiments
perform tasks for the public such as giving rides, painting pictures, abandoned and left in much worse conditions.
and observations on the Asian elephant's captivity have shown "that that stress experienced during their youth can
performing in shows and more. Elephants are taken at birth and (Kontogeorgopoulos, 12) Stricter regulations will often times cost
lead to neurological and behavioral changes that resemble PTSD in humans (Caroline, 2006).
beaten with sticks and other objects until they learn to obey their tourist businesses more money which means they may have to
● Elephants are highly social animals that exhibit a diverse range of social behavior. (Harvey, 2)
trainers. Harsh conditions in many of the elephants housing cause work the elephants longer hours with tourists. These businesses
● Affiliative interactions observed between non mating elephants include greeting each other by extending their trunk
many physical effects such as sores on feet and eyes, and may be forced to find other ways to cut corners to make ends
towards an approaching individual, social rubbing, and touching each other with their trunks. (Harvey, 2)
malnourishment in some cases. Not only are these elephants under meet. (Kontogeorgopoulos, 12)
● Affiliative contact behavior such as these are thought to be used for building and maintaining social bonds, providing
physical stress, many elephants suffer psychologically as well. Some ● On a socioeconomic level, it is uncertain how regulations would
reassurance, greeting, and play. (Harvey, 2)
of the psychological effects include a lack of understanding of natural affect the economy and human wellbeing in some Asian countries.
● Agonistic interactions between elephants include threat displays, mock charges, biting, kicking, and other contact
elephant social cues, and high levels of stress and anxiety due to Tourism is one of the main ways that these regions bring in
based attacks that potentially inflict pain or cause another individual to move away. (Harvey, 2)
containment. Despite the effects of tourism to Asian elephants, it income, disrupting their main source of revenue has pot
● Opportunities for multigenerational social interactions have been shown to be an important factor in captive elephants,
continues because of its social importance in Asia. Additionally, ● ential to severely increase effects of poverty. (Kontogeorgopoulos,
as elephants that spend time housed alone are at higher risk of developing stereotypic (repetitive) behavior patterns,
some conservationists support the tourism industry because of its 8)
whilst time spent with juveniles can reduce this risk. (Harvey, 2)
supposed positive impact on the Asian Elephant population. In order ● There is uncertainty about how increasing or decreasing the
to better support elephant’s physical and mental state, there must be captive elephant populations will affect the decreasing wild
alternatives created that still support the history and culture in Asia elephant population. For a population at risk like the Asian
and the native Asian elephant population. elephant "captivity may be the only option for survival” (Riddle.
Vol. 3; NO. 6)
● There is a lot of information regarding what is bad for these
elephants physically and psychologically but there is limited
knowledge about the best condition for captive elephants. (Riddle.
Vol. 3; NO. 6)

Figure 1: This figure illustrates the number of elephants that are currently
being used in the tourism industry in different Asian countries. The figure
indicates that there is a clear majority of Asian Elephants in tourism that
reside in Thailand (Taken for a ride).
Figure 3: This figure shows the ratio of observed behavioral problems
at venues that house Asian Elephants, Macaques, and Tigers in
Thailand (Schmidt-Burbach).
Social Effects Figure 2: This figure depicts an adolescent Asian Elephant being trained through the use of a training method called crush,
which is commonly used in Asian countries to force elephants into obedience (Asian Elephants Mistreated).
● Elephants are an important part of history in especially India.
Elephants were used as implements of war. They were used to guide Bibliography
soldiers into the battlefield destroying everything in their path.(Dhwty)
As the popularity of elephants in war increased, the effectiveness
Potential Areas of Impact “Asian Elephants Mistreated For Tourism And On The Brink Of Extinction.” Tourism Concern -Action for Ethical Tourism, Ethical Travel Guide, 15 Aug.
2017, www.tourismconcern.org.uk/asian-elephants-mistreated-tourism-brink-extinction/.

Cartwright, Mark. “Elephants in Greek & Roman Warfare.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 15 Nov. 2019,

diminished because the enemy became more prepared for this ● Education – One of the most important ways to put an end to Asian elephant tourism is to educate the public about its www.ancient.eu/article/876/elephants-in-greek--roman-warfare/.

creature. (Cartwrite) negative effects, and to encourage people to choose to support more humane alternatives such as Sanctuaries Dhwty. “War Elephants: The Military 'Tanks' of the Ancient World.” Ancient Origins, Ancient Origins, www.ancient-origins.net/history/war-elephants-
military-tanks-ancient-world-009967.

● Asian Elephants remain an important part of Asian culture and (Larrson). “Elephant Symbolism.” Banner.png, elephantfacts.net/elephant-symbolism.html.

religion. They symbolize wisdom and royalty, and are incorporated in ● Humane Alternatives - Tourism is an important part of many communities' incomes and ways of life. Taking away Geographic, National. YouTube, YouTube, 15 May 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITlo2ZBJOWU&t=303s.

many religions such as Hindu Iconography and Buddhism. (Elephant elephant tourism would be detrimental to many people’s livelihoods. The role of an environmental scientist in this Harvey, Naomi D., et al. “Social Interactions in Two Groups of Zoo-Housed Adult Female Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) That Differ in
Relatedness.” Animals (2076-2615), vol. 8, no. 8, Aug. 2018, p. 132. EBSCOhost, doi:10.3390/ani8080132.

Symbolism) situation would be to help communities make the switch from using elephants as a tool for entertainment to viewing http://ida.lib.uidaho.edu:2168/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=a8ee3134-d142-4bfd-9a61-fac6345e135b%40pdc-v-
sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=aph&AN=131939632

● In Asian countries the Asian Elephant serves as a leading tourist elephants as individuals who deserve protection. They could promote places such as Asian elephant sanctuaries and Kontogeorgopoulos, Nick. "The role of tourism in elephant welfare in Northern Thailand."Journal of Tourism (2009).
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/7da9/c11b213436213e8190fcdfde674b91acba9e.pdf

attraction. Tourism activities may include elephant back safaris, places that allow elephants to be protected (Larrson). Larsson, Naomi. “The Dark Side of Wildlife Tourism: Thousands of Asian Elephants Held in Cruel Conditions.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 6

going to the circus, or going to the zoo. Each attraction generates ● Conservation of Elephants – Without tourist events that showcase the elephants, many people worry that people will July 2017, www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/jul/06/thousands-elephants-exploited-tourism-held-cruel-conditions.

Riddle, H.S. & C. Stremme (2011). Captive elephants – an overview. Journal of Threatened Taxa 3(6): 1826–1836.
money through the economy creating jobs for the workers who watch no longer have a vested interest in protecting and preserving the elephant population. The role of an environmental https://threatenedtaxa.org/index.php/JoTT/article/view/656/1151

over, train, or clean up after the elephants. (The Role of Elephants in scientist would be to help find sanctuaries for displaced elephants that are abandoned if the tourism industry no longer Schmidt-Burbach, Jan, et al. “Asian Elephant (Elephas Maximus), Pig-Tailed Macaque (Macaca Nemestrina) and Tiger (Panthera Tigris) Populations at
Tourism Venues in Thailand and Aspects of Their Welfare.” Plos One, vol. 10, no. 9, 2015, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0139092.

Asian Cultures and Communities) uses elephants, and continuing to preserve the elephant population (Asian Elephants Mistreated). “Taken for a Ride: Thousands of Elephants Exploited for Tourism Are Held in Cruel Conditions.” World Animal Protection International, 7 July 2017,
www.worldanimalprotection.org/news/taken-ride-thousands-elephants-exploited-tourism-are-held-cruel-conditions