DaisyRose Posted March 13, 2018 #1 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Hello, I'm booked on a Princess cruise in Asia, and have been looking at the shore excursions offered. A number of them include an elephant ride. It sounds both exciting and scary to me. But I'm mainly wondering about the ethics involved. Is this hard on the elephants? Are they treated well? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of this subject. Thank you in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasgal47 Posted March 13, 2018 #2 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Hello, I'm booked on a Princess cruise in Asia, and have been looking at the shore excursions offered. A number of them include an elephant ride. It sounds both exciting and scary to me. But I'm mainly wondering about the ethics involved. Is this hard on the elephants? Are they treated well? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of this subject. Thank you in advance. PLEASE don’t ride any elephants. A new report by World Animal Protection titled Taken For A Ride says that 3 in 4 elephants in tourist entertainment venues around Asia are living in poor, unacceptable welfare conditions. Read this website. https://mashable.com/2017/07/07/elephant-ride-report-asia/#RPXtuOox1gqo Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazedByCruising Posted March 13, 2018 #3 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Hello,I'm booked on a Princess cruise in Asia, and have been looking at the shore excursions offered. A number of them include an elephant ride. It sounds both exciting and scary to me. But I'm mainly wondering about the ethics involved. Is this hard on the elephants? Are they treated well? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of this subject. Thank you in advance. Being a bit suspicious about elephant rides is entirely justified. Elephants are "tamed" (a better word would be "tortured") to allow people to ride them. Elephants are different from horses. I hope they also offer tours that bring you close to elephants in the wild, which I know is an experience that you will never forget :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasgal47 Posted March 13, 2018 #4 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Being a bit suspicious about elephant rides is entirely justified. Elephants are "tamed" (a better word would be "tortured") for them to allow people to ride them. Elephants are different from horses. I hope they also offer tours that bring you close to elephants in the wild, which I know is an experience that you will never forget :) I totally agree about being tortured. If she saw how the elephants are so-called tamed, it would make her sick. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted March 13, 2018 #5 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Wild animals belong in the wild. As long as inconsiderate people are willing to pay, people without a conscience will continue to capture and exploit these animals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCruisers Posted March 13, 2018 #6 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Our friends have a picture of them on an elephant. They thought the one they rode was well taken care of. It was a larger one and given a rest of 20 minutes between each ride. Seems some operators take better care of their elephants than others. :rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare 4cats4me Posted March 13, 2018 #7 Share Posted March 13, 2018 No, don’t do it, then one day they will have to reconsider offering this type of excursion if nobody partakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyRose Posted March 13, 2018 Author #8 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Thank you all who replied. I wondered if the elephants were treated poorly, and now I know. We won't be choosing an excursion that includes riding on elephants. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeptuneSeas Posted March 13, 2018 #9 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Please, DON'T do any Shore Excursion involving riding elephants - it is cruel. We agree with the people who have genuine concern for the welfare of animals. For verification, the animal protection society of the country the excursion is offered in will provide the "truth". It is heartbreaking. We have the power to change this. All animals have feelings............... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazedByCruising Posted March 13, 2018 #10 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I totally agree about being tortured. If she saw how the elephants are so-called tamed, it would make her sick. I'm not in the PETA league, not even vegetarian. I've never been on a Princess cruise, but HAL and X couldn't stop telling me how much they cared for the environment and sea life and whatnot. I guess Princess is no different as it's a sister to HAL. Trust arrives on foot and leaves on horseback. I wonder what genius decided that there was some money to be made by allowing this kind of shorex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vegasgal47 Posted March 13, 2018 #11 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Thank you all who replied. I wondered if the elephants were treated poorly, and now I know. We won't be choosing an excursion that includes riding on elephants. I thank you and the elephants thank you! [emoji4] Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky TGO Posted March 13, 2018 #12 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I didn’t have any opinion one way or another but after reading all the post. I wouldn’t go. Tony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmazedByCruising Posted March 13, 2018 #13 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Thank you all who replied. I wondered if the elephants were treated poorly, and now I know. We won't be choosing an excursion that includes riding on elephants. Thank you for wondering, and thank you for bringing your business elsewhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyRose Posted March 13, 2018 Author #14 Share Posted March 13, 2018 It's wonderful that so many of us can share our knowledge and help others make good informed choices. Thank you again to all who responded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tip Posted March 13, 2018 #15 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I actually associate more with donkeys!;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Keith1010 Posted March 13, 2018 #16 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I have to admit several years ago we road one in Thailand. Today I would not do it because of the World Animal Protection report which I read a few weeks ago. Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sacto Rick Posted March 13, 2018 #17 Share Posted March 13, 2018 We would love to go to Thailand on a cruise or even a land trip someday. One thing we originally wanted to do was ride an elephant. After reading how they were tortured, we decided that wouldn't be appropriate. We think we'll go to an elephant sanctuary instead, where they are well cared for and we can at least observe them closer and learn more about their habits. No riding though... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wishing on a star Posted March 13, 2018 #18 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Nope.... I wouldn't choose to do this. For me, I guess I don't know why anyone would want/need to ride an elephant? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingofcool1947 Posted March 13, 2018 #19 Share Posted March 13, 2018 (edited) Hello,I'm booked on a Princess cruise in Asia, and have been looking at the shore excursions offered. A number of them include an elephant ride. It sounds both exciting and scary to me. But I'm mainly wondering about the ethics involved. Is this hard on the elephants? Are they treated well? I'd appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of this subject. Thank you in advance. Have you ever ridden a horse or donkey? It’s no different except larger. Elephants are used as work animals in Thailand, and are use to humans riding them. They are treated humanely. How much do you weigh and do you have any medical conditions? You should have nothing to worry about. I’ve done it many times. Enjoy your ride. :) Edited March 13, 2018 by Kingofcool1947 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wilkies Posted March 13, 2018 #20 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I did it, but wanted to get off as soon as I got on. Would never do it again and am ashamed that I even considered this excursion. Don’t do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingofcool1947 Posted March 13, 2018 #21 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Read this: http://thailandelephant.org/en/thaielephant.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruzsnooze Posted March 13, 2018 #22 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Read this: http://thailandelephant.org/en/thaielephant.html Here's a quote from that propaganda Without work in tourism, elephant owners will have no means to care for their animals. SO DON"T CARE FOR THEM! LEAVE THEM IN THE WILD WHERE THEY BELONG. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pablo222 Posted March 13, 2018 #23 Share Posted March 13, 2018 The elephants that I have seen ... in, say the lido ... don't look friendly, nor amenable to riding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingofcool1947 Posted March 14, 2018 #24 Share Posted March 14, 2018 The elephants that I have seen ... in, say the lido ... don't look friendly, nor amenable to riding. Thanks for the info. I didn’t know that. But sorry, I don’t understand what you mean. Do you mean fat overweight elephants? And, why do they don’t look friendly, nor amenable to riding? Is it due to bad treatment as many here have said? And, is that what those Animal Rights PAXs here are talking about? Hope you enjoy your next cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrMan Posted March 14, 2018 #25 Share Posted March 14, 2018 I was in Siam and saw a pair of the captive baby elephants. Being that the elephants were Siamese, they were attached at the end of their trunks. When they had to sneeze they couldn’t go achoo like the other elephants, they could only go bleezeka. Sent from my iPad using Forums Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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