SHOCKING pictures show the devastating impact carrying tourists for decades has made to a retired elephant’s health.
Pai Lin spent over 25 years in Thailand’s trekking industry, forced to give rides for up to six tourists at a time.
The result on her body has been disastrous with her spine now visibly deformed, in pictures shared by her rescue centre, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT).
“Pai Lin’s spine, which should naturally be rounded and raised, is caved in and sunken from the heavy weight of repeated work,” Tom Taylor, Project Director at WFFT, told Jam Press.
These physical deformations are common in elephants used for tourist rides, according to WFFT, who released the photos of Pai Lin to help raise awareness of how elephants can suffer as part of the riding industry.
Elephants used for trekking often spend full days carrying the weight of their mahout (handler), groups of tourists, and a heavy howdah (seat).
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This continuous pressure on their bodies can deteriorate the tissue and bones on their back, causing irreversible physical damage to their spines.
Pai Lin’s back bears scars from old pressure points.
Tom said: “While elephants may be known for their strength and size, their backs are not naturally designed to carry weight, as their spines extend upwards.
“Constant pressure on their backbones from tourists can result in permanent physical damage, which can be seen in our resident Pai Lin.”
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Described as the grandma of WFFT’s elephant refuge, Pai Lin, now around 71 years old, was rescued by the sanctuary back in 2007.
The charity looks after her along with 23 other elephants, who live in the sanctuary’s 44-acre elephant enclosures and eat 300kg of food a day each.
The sanctuary is also home to over 700 other rescue animals, including primates, exotic birds, and tigers.
Tom added: “Most of the rescued elephants at WFFT have experienced decades of abuse.
“While we could never comprehend the trauma these animals have experienced in the past, at least they can now live the rest of their lives in peace at the sanctuary.
“We hope that these photos encourage tourists to do their research and support only ethical and sustainable elephant centres, while avoiding establishments that offer riding or other exploitative practices.”
Today it is estimated there are around 3,000 domestic elephants in Thailand, most of them work in the tourism or logging industries.
Meanwhile, in the wild, there are only around 2,200 individuals left, who live in open grasslands and dense rainforests spread over the country.
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