very interesting debates from this stimulating youtube. jademorris is a fine thinker. i love animals. the history of abuse of other creatures by humans is wretched. like every other "thing" we exploit. humanity may have developed fine powers of discrimination, aesthetics, philosophy, arts, music, poetry, but our behaviour is undeniably destructive and cruel. so only recently have "humanitarians" (strange term to use to describe those with positive and benevolent values) been active in
@sungate153 Oh, I see and are the money or "charity" money actually uses the money for charity? Also its not shameful, there is a chance that even the elephants don't mind. As long as both trainers and elephants are happy I'm alright with this trick.
@retardness13 Well have you heard of the Orangutan trainer in Las Vegas, turns out he isn't really an abusive trainer, also define HOW they 'torture' the animals.
I have only the highest regard for the intelligence of ALL animals. I know for afact they are creative and sensitive beings. And i believe that elephants like to paint. But the paintings on all the you tube videos shows the trainer guiding them. Period.
Many elephants and other animal paint in American zoos. It is a form of behavioral enrichment, much like you would give a dog a toy to keep him from being bored. It stimulates their mind. Yes, maybe the mahout is "helping" the elephant by guiding the elephant, but if you think about most artist, they have a teacher who guides them to. Elephants do paint and they can make decisions, don't you think they would eat their favorite food first before any other food? They are intelligent and beautiful
i know that the elephant has been trained to paint specific pictures, but it is painting them from memory!! that means that the elephant must be thinking in some kind of way!! and why do people think that animals can not think? they might not be so smart or intelligent, but i am convinced that they do think!!
I believe that the Mahoot- trainer has his hand on the elephant and is guiding the elephant directly. Possibly behind the ears. Elephants can not paint. they can not make the DECISIONS that are being made because THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THESE THINGS. The mahoots trained them to MOVE THE PAINT BRUSH AT THEIR COMMAND.
@arthurrobins You don't know that, the only think we know is that maybe they wouldn't chose to paint shitty flower compositions themselves, that's all.
@arthurrobins You don't know that, the only think we know is that maybe they wouldn't chose to paint shitty flower compositions themselves, that's all.
@arthurrobins How do you know that? it does not seem like that the trainer is guiding it, so how did you came to that conclusion? You just dont want to believe that elephants can paint, because that is against your general believe, that all animals are mindless idiots!! But you have just seen that this is not true, and stille your are closing your eyes saying I DONT WANNA BELIEVE THIS!!! THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! your are an idiot!!
The question is how are they trained and learn to paint. People want to know because they believe they are abused in training. Seeing is believing . If there is proof they are not abused in the process i`d pay for a painting.
fyi elephants don't paint this way of their own volition, they have been trained to duplicate images for sale to tourists. inquiring minds can find TRUE creations from elephant artists. see elephant art gallery spotting a fake
Trainer tugs on elephant's ear to get him to move the trunk. Elephant is trained with classical conditioning. That's why they only show the brush; the animal has no idea what it's doing. It's like a parrot talking. See video "why elephants paint".
If you believe that, then why dose the Elefhant pic particular subjects? thease animals are trained to paint on command for the tourist humans, but Elephants will pain of their own accord if the tools are available. I have used cards painted by elephants for years, they chose their own subjects. it is also clear that by showing that the concept of depth of field is apparent to the 'painter'[by painting the two 'farther away legs , after the two closer ones} the 'artist' shows cognascence.
@beejor Man it's an animal not a muppet. How do you explain the trainer getting flowers through the elephant? Do they them all attend "train elephants to paint for you" class or what?
@beejor I think that is impossible: by simply pulling a trunk the handler put accross information to the elephant. The only in wich the elephant can do this is by actually seeing and understanding what they are doing. Elephants are many times stronger than their keepers and will not do anything they dont want to. And as you know elephants have about the biggest brains apart from whales, a lot bigger then ours, so why shouldnt they be able to do this??
Boo-Hooo most successful people endure a certain amount of "pain.(.........if you want to play the moral relativty card) a few years of pain~~~~~>=can support themselves and odthers............My jury is out on just how bad this is in the Macro......
For TRUTH & the FACTS. Check out the youtube video called " the elephant lady ". It's about Lek Chairlet in Thailand & her TRUE rescue work & about the Elephant Nature Park she founded. Also known as the Elephant Nature Foundation. Included is FILM of the Pajaan process ritual that ALL the elephants doing painting, trekking, tricks, street begging etc are put thru. Lek is rescueing elephants near death because of the poor diets abuse cruelty broken bodies broken spirits. God Bless Lek.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you deenap1for your comments!!!!!! I just got back from the Elephant Nature Park, and got to spend time with Lek. Learning about the true torture that these baby elephants go through to "learn to paint" was heart wrenching!!!! Please learn what you are supporting before you ever support elephant painting! These babies are taken away from their mommies and beaten and tortures into submission..... it is just horrible!!!
@farhmoha what is fishy on this...i didn't see nothing strange , may u explain mee?...i think this is so cute but im afraid of believing something that can not be true :(....sorry 4 my english
@harlequingirlpatd Hey, I will send you the video that was brought to my attention by @deenap called "The Elephant Lady". After seeing that video it will really open up your eyes about how they treat elephants.
@deenap1 Yes!! I love Lek and what she's done. I've volunteered at ENP twice and now I'm working on ENF's Surin Project. Eles are intelligent and they can likely paint a beautiful picture on their own IF they wanted. But, instead they go through torture so they learn to be submissive and hold a brush on their own and paint when told. People can argue that they "look" happy, but that's just appearance. People should educate themselves on how they are trained to do these paintings, as you said.
@PiggyBlackWhite Forsome reason your comment showed up in my messages folder, but it's deleted here. I DO educate myself on this. have seen firsthand (videos&real life examples) of elephants being tortured in pajaan and the bulhookfor these paintings (as well as other things such as trekking, circuses). I am also not against positive training, but not all cases use positive training for things such as painting. So, I err on the side of caution and don't support things like this, but sanctuaries
from what ive seen in maesa(chiang mai)the elephants are well treated...far from being abused. not just theyre properly fed but the tourist are welcome to feed them as well. theres no sign of any elephants in poor health. if u happen to visit, check how happy the elephants here compare to the other places. in regards the painting...yes they are trained to paint, like humans i suppose but not everyone can paint that accurate. believe me theyre magnificent wit theyre eyes and trunk coordination.
Have you seen the training first hand? Of course they are NEVER going to show abuse upfront, that would be like a child rapist raping a child in front of a crowd.
Thai elephants are tamed in a ceremony called the Phajaan, they are deprived of food, water &sleep and are poked and proded with bamboo sticks with nails imbedded in the end, knives and are also shot with stones and other projectiles. This is meant to break the spirit of the elephant. After Phajaan the elephants endure more horrifying torture when they are trained at knifepoint to paint pictures, play instruments or forced to stand on their head.
@PiggyBlackWhite You only speak ignorance and yes I have been there.Turn a blind eye and the elephant will die, extinct in our children's lifetime, how sad.
I would also like to add that a real sanctuary would never put chains around their elephants necks. You should check out elephant nature foundation for a real elephant rescue. These fake rescues are very profitable.
@PiggyBlackWhite To even suggest any other problem irrelevant compared to human plight is insane. Why not let the world just crumble in our hands. You're a waste of a decent discussion, I'm done talking with you.
I've spent time at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre & hospital. The elephants there are loved & not abused. A lot of them suffered at the end of the logging industry because the mahouts couldn't afford to feed them. Paintings are sold to help pay for their treatment and maintenance. They're trained to paint by the mahout holding their trunk & then moving further back to the ear when they remember the movements. The elephants seemed to be genuinely happy - bright eyed & playful.
I'm very glad to hear of your experience at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre & hospital. - Based on the video uploader's description. It appears to me that this video was taken there. Can you please confirm if that is true? Thank you.
controls? what? are you thinking something like an etcha-sketch or a tractor beam? maybe a joystick, dipstick? no? it must be obvious- a remote trunk access control button just like the one in the car? no? touch screen? controls....got it!
color and tint !!!! i'm betting the more advanced ones get horizontal and vert controls. before long maybe all this can happen via remote "control" . how perceptive of you to pick up on the controls under their ears.....i'd would have missed it.
Hmm, could be right. Although, I'm wondering if the control mechanism isn't under the ears, but rather a proper (or not so proper) torquing of the tail. - A messy business I'm sure.
Respond to this video... I sure do hope your honest about you deleting your post and I deleted mine. Also your a very intelligent person, even though you said that comment previously, and its more like ignorance not stupidity, I'm still pretty pissed at myself for offending you really.
@rotatingwah So yes sorry, and please don't offend me further. I didn't mean to sound ignorant, I was just wondering. Also even if your comment wasn't intended to be offensive (I doubt it), I am offended. That wasn't nice. I did not wanted to offend you in the first place. I apologize.
The PREVIOUS COMMENT mentioning the outlawing of logging (timber industry) means to clarify that formerly these elephants worked carrying logs, and now they have no place after the outlawing of logging. I THINK ELEPHANTS there NEED A PRESERVE. THAT REQUIRES LETTERS to the Government of Thailand from Americans and interest internationally in this issue. Why don't you write that letter, Marjorie ? Or whoever posted this video. Don't just complain. DO SOMETHING. Its easy to complain.
OK, just by seeing this, it seems that they never let go of the elephant, by the ear, if you notice, and some of the trainers, still have a stick, I guess those are the new trainees, therefore they still need to scare them. I particularly do not trust anything that is related to humans, concerning animals, if is not only freedom.
It fucking disgusts me how people act towards animals, when we realize Elephants can paint & demonstrate an intelligence we would of never thought they were capable of do we treat them any better maby even give them the respect of an equily sentient creature is due? FUCK NO! We turn the whole spectical into a form of intertainment for tourists to gawk at. I relly hope the whole human race gets wiped out by the flu.
noo thats because theres a time periode where male elefhants get a little angry....like a girl during those day.....when the trainers ignore the sympthoms they get crazy and start attaking ppl....thats why they have to be tied up until they calm down again
these elephants are captured at a very young age and forced to learn to paint for tourists pleasure. The trainers issue voice commands and use a nail to poke the elephant if they don't follow
Everyone else whines, so it is the norm for us to do so as well. To simplify things, one must just edit the words (and contractions thereof) "not" "never" "no" "hopefully" and "in the future" out of their vocabulary. The continual redirecting of your focus to the now and the positive (I dare not say "good" because there is no good and bad, only foolish and wise) is seemingly the most difficult thing for the masses to do, and the comments left by the majority of you still only proves this truth.
I have not pushed any negative vibes into the universe over this. If you have felt negativity, "spiritsinger," I suggest you examine your own spirit and agenda a little more closely and figure out why you can't let go and be optimistic. ANYONE can bitch and moan. It is the hardest thing in the world to learn to see only the good in every situation. I challenge anyone to try it for just one day, even. Not half-assed, either. Don't say "I'm happy it's not raining." Say, "I'm happy it's sunny."
you are disconnected. And if the meaning of life is true connection to everything and everyone, than at that moment, you are fighting life. And that's when Karma steps in to restore the balance you've tampered with. They call it the law of attraction -- focus on the negative, and more negative comes into your life. I see it as way more. It's the constant fight against connection to the now that dooms so many. I never experienced guilt over these elephants. It was never a part of my pie.
For example: I know a girl who, when she drinks, only wants to talk about how horrible her ex treated her in the past. She'll cling to these memories and use them to show how we're different(or separate) and I'll never understand her problems. Our pasts are WAY more similar than she'll ever know, but I can not understand or relate to her because I don't understand people who can't learn to live in the now. You may not realize it, but every time you are dwelling on something in a different time,
You are all missing the point. Why focus on the means by which this elephant learned to accomplish something amazing? I have no "better than thou" attitude, and either you completely misunderstood me, or you need to rediscover the definition of the word "pious". In every argument, I like to look at who is trying to connect and who is trying to remain separate. Those clinging to a negative past are just grabbing at yet another point of separation.
jademorris, while i am happy you have found a way to ease your burdens of guilt over the elephants, you are out of line in your attacks over the comments left here. you dont know any of the people you condemn personally so quit with the pious attitude already. everyone has a right to speak what they feel, this and if anyone is pushing negative feelings or vibes in the universe it is you and your better than thou attitude.
All of you who are actually doing something about this "elephant abuse" problem, instead of just flapping your mouths, please post a genuine comment. Let us know how these specific youtube posts inspired you, and what steps you have actually taken to correct said problem. Keep in mind, talking about it outside of youtube does not count either, but rather that falls under the flapping-of-the-mouth category, which again is just investing more negative energy into our universe.
Am I the only one that is amazed by these animal's ability to do this? I mean, be it via training or inspiration~ it's still an amazing & beautiful thing. I don't know of any other animal that can be trained to do this type of thing. And, if you know anything about abused animals...you know they tend to rebel and NOT comply after abuse, they cower & ignore, then retaliate. Elephants use the same response traits. These elephants are too "obedient" or responsive. Probably well trained, not abused.
is that guy telling the elephant what to do? it looks sad to watch, but i bet they have chains on the elephant so it doesn't try to run off and accidentaly crush someone. you never know. the video i watched before was really amazing. i just hope they aren't abused into doing that. : (
Do any of you complainers think these abusers are going to stop abusing just because you left negative feedback on youtube? Has no one ever heard of the law of attraction? I suggest some serious time be spent researching Esther Hicks. If you want to bring about positive change, quitcherbitchin. Good luck to all you sad people. There is no real happiness out there for you because you will always find a more miserable thought to wallow in & new ways to possibly drag others into your hell with you.
The only creatures with "crushed spirits" are those who refuse to let go of the past. I don't believe these elephants have learned to express themselves through painting. It is obvious they were taught to paint specific things. The only reason I felt the need to comment on the ignorance of the majority of you fools is because you're accomplishing nothing. Go adopt an elephant if you're so moved. That's what I'm in the process of doing. Quit focusing on negative, biased, hearsay.
for those of you crying abuse...these elephants have actually been rescued FROM abuse rather than this being a case OF abuse...and as for painting being abuse...these are highly intelligent animals...as such, painting gives them an opportunity to express themselves...much as it does for us. we enjoy painting and other creative things to keep our minds and selves busy and not bored...why should an elephant, one of the most intelligent of animals, be any different...
The elephants trained to follow mahouts command out of fear of abuse suffered during training called pajaan that crushes the elephants spirit.A baby is roped in a small cage and can't move.Its beaten,starved, deprived to submission. Survivors are left with physical,emotional scars forever.The elephant moves a brush by commands from the mahout.The elephants arent happy and work out of fear.Go the Elephant Nature Park north of Chiang Mai Thailand. Learn what the park does to save them from abuse.
Yeah I beleive what you say. The trainer is making the elephant do this. Some people think the elephant likes doing this and gets satifaction from it. The elephant can't even see what he is painting they are very farsighted. Also in the Far east they skin animals alive for fur. I do ot trust the East.
I believe elephants are very intelligent and sensitive creatures. However, I also believe that these elephants were trained to paint specific images by a process that was most likely very traumatic for the elephant. It is sad to see such an intelligent and amazing creature perhaps abused yet again... but don't let the possible fact of it's abuse blind you (i'm talking to everyone) to the elephants inherent intelligence.
actually, it is fantastic that people complain about this stuff on youtube, because we live in an age now where people read each others comments from all around the world and so it raises awareness. It gets people talking. It spreads the word. If we all just put up with everything bad in the world and didn't complain, how would things ever change for the better and how would peoples minds become educated on topics? Your attitude stinks.
My reaction to this video (and similar videos) has been, "wow, what an incredible thing for a creature to do." My dog will do tricks for treats and walk beside me, but I'm sure he'd much rather be running with a pack of wild dogs, "socializing." Learning trades that bore us, captivity, repetition, abuse -- these things ARE a part of OUR lives, and while they seem unfair, we learn to function positively in spite of them. Can you not learn to "smell the flowers?"
Ok really? I'm assuming the majority of you who are displeased with this video have a lot of experience with elephants to be able to interpret the expression on this particular elephant's face. And I'm also assuming that you (still addressing the overly-dramatic crowd) have no pets. It is a shame that certain trainers (for any realm or field, be it human or animal) use negative reinforcement instead of positive. You are not separate from this negativity by focusing on the negativity.
The elephant looks so unhappy, how sad. And look at those chains those idiots put on the poor elephants. Those elephants deserve to be in the wild, socializing with one another, roaming free, not being forced to do anything, leave the painting art for humans, keep wild animals out of this.
Whoever pays them to see this is encouraging animal abuse. Of course they have to "paint" and "entertain people", if they don't they will get beat up by those poor excuses for humans. Who knows what goes on behind the curtains? Why don't you teach little kids to paint and entertain people? Will that be funny and entertaining to watch? This is just sad, leave the elephants in the wild, where they came from, they were not made for holding a brush by their trunk and being forced to paint.
journeyman47 Thank you for the information. I dont like to see any animal or people, plants being abuse or terrorized. I really feel for these elephants!
For all you who are wondering, in Thailand the elephants are beaten and yanked with bullhooks to train them. While training, up to four men hit and jab them for hours at a time. And that's not even mentioning the "phajaan", the Thai "crushing" ritual where baby elephants' spirits are broken by horrible beatings, starvation and torture. Please don't support this abuse by going to elephant shows. Personally, I'd rather see them behaving naturally, like in the Elephant Nature Park. Look it up.
Half~ I didn't say whips; the don't use them. They use bullhooks, also known as an "ankus". They keep them low and try to hide their use from the customers when they're visiting. But when they're gone, the bullhooks come out and are used liberally, to terrify the elephants into doing whatever they want. There's lots of evidence of this online and in books about elephants. Check it out some time.
poor elephants. i do not find this beautiful at all. instead of admiring their "art" it brought tears to my eyes. the chains around the elephants are obvious they;ve been trained to do this and i would hate to imagine how they were trained. this only shows how intelligent these gentle giants are, they shold not be 'painting' for our entertainment. Its just so unnnatural
Halfwit--I mean, Halflife, this is EXACTLY the place for it-- a place to share comments and ideas. That's what it says above: "Post a comment"-- just like YOU did.
These elephants were tortured before, now they are protected, and like everyone else in this world, we must work for our food. So the elephants are doing just that and more, they have lovely people around them, excluding the man with a STICK on his hands. That I dont like it.I hope that he does not use that stick on the elephant to make the elephant obey and paint!
Isophila, my poor, deluded friend. That "stick" is a bullhook, which has a sharp steel hook on it that is used liberally by the mahouts to make the elephants do what they want. They know where the sensitive areas are like the mouth, ears and anus, and yank them there til it hurts. As for those "lovely" people, they all help abuse the elephants until they learn their tricks for clueless tourists who pay them money. Sorry, but if you think the elephants are "protected" there, they ain't.
I'm sure they ARE trained, but so am I, and it doesn't make me any less of an artist. Elephants are very sensitive and beautiful creatures. let's not be human-centric and think we have the monopoly on being able to create. There are whole books written about animals who create.
the trainer seems to be tugging on the elephant's ear in 00:27. i personally believe they mistreat animals in the circus, or wherever animals are being manipulated and trained by humans for profit and entertainment. i think it would be very evident that they are trained to paint, and are not acting on it through their own desire to paint, if the different elephants are painting the same images.
YEAH? animals are so inteelegent, next you'll want them to vote and own a house and have money.... dumb people shouldn't talk and when I say dumb I mean you animal lovers. its clear as day thats its ah stupid elephant!
Elephants are intelligent, sentient, emotional, social, majestic beings. We should respect them and recognize them as our brothers and sisters here on Earth. We just cannot communicate with them in the ways we would like to, but we can find ways.
guys-do some homework..these elephants are lucky to be alive since their natural habitat is gone and they no longer serve any purpose because there is no more timber harvesting..this is a wonderful chance for them much as it is for polar bears who live in Central Park in NYC...get with the program and stop being skeptical...this is a good thing for the elephants...better than the alternatives.
Who are are YOU to determine that they no longer serve any purpose. Elephants weren't created JUST for timber harvesting. You make no sense. It's like saying you worked for a company for 80 years & oh no, your company went under & you're now out of a job. Gee, I guess your only other option (other than death or the "alternatives") is to paint/entertain a bunch of tourists while someone's prodding & harshly saying commands to you. Yeah, that makes COMPLETE sense. Wow, you're genius.
like I said, if you read what I wrote, which you did not is that the elephants in Asia no longer have a habitat to live in and there is no sustainable way for them to be kept. Perhaps, instead of trying to be a cynic, you can set up an elephant trust and purchase a few thousand acres of land for them. If you just did a little reading instead of making stupid comments that are ill informed, you might be able to add positive energy into the world instead of writing uniformed you tube comments.
Saying that an elephant "no longer serve[s] any purpose" is not the same as "there is no sustainable way for them to be kept." I DID read what you wrote in your initial comment, dearest all-knowing Stan. Your follow-up comments are much more thorough and the condescending tone of your words are absolutely unnecessary. I'm sure you find your daily pleasure in writing trains of online "comments," but simmer down. :)
nope-you are the only person to go out of their way to try to spin a comment like that by assuming the cynical. Up to now, I have enjoyed nothing but positive postings...maybe you were having a bad day nothing personal. I just didn't enjoy the attempt to 'paint a bad picture.'
and another thing, since you cannot read what is written, I did not invent the timber industry or condone it. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that without it, these poor animals would have been wiped off the face of the earth 50 years ago. You should learn how to comprehend words...since I didn't say any of the things you claim, as in I DETERMINED THIS-what a numbnut.
WHAT??! Are you serious?!! The timber industry has prevented these animals from being wiped off the face of the Earth?! Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to animal conservation, and to our existence even! Destruction of complex and delicate ecosystems, removal of CO2 filtering system and production of oxygen, depletion of minerals from soil once supported by forest and removal of natural barriers to landslides which is why the Thai gov, banned logging. I mean really - are you high?!
and finally, mirrorfacadeobviouslyneedscleaning-the painting elephants in the US zoos are not abused or beaten. They just happen to love to paint. Not that complicated.
I agreed that those elephants have been trained and torture before coz how could there be so many talented elephants knowing how to paint at the same time, those things must be trained man! Remember they did not make any mistakes in painting, u think that is really easy?
This is a beautiful video. You can hear the children laughing and a happy joyful atmosphere. The elephants seem to accept the painting as a way to please their handlers and are not being abused in any way. What a wonderful way to show the world how intelligent and beautiful elephants really are! Thank you for posting.
A tame eliphant always looks nice, but to get a tame eliphant, the eliphant has to undergo a training, in which the eliphant is tortured and abused when the eliphant is very very young, so that the eliphant accepts the humans as its "master". Also, the mothers are killed in the wild, to get the young. It looks nice, but it isn't. The fact that tourists like it and give money for it, and think it is al nice, is causing more eliphants to get killed and abused.
You can't present an argument with absolutely no evidence what so ever. For all i know, you just made all that up. How do you know that they are tortured? Did you see them when it happened? Where's the proof of what your saying? Please don't post such a stupid argument when you havn't put forth any real evidence as to what your saying.
Vysled~ I'm afraid Laurens didn't make that up... what she said is true. All domesticated elephants in Thailand are tortured when young in the "phajaan" ritual in order to "break" them-- believed (erroneously) to be the only way to control them. There is plenty of video footage of this online. Fortunately the Elephant Nature Park is trying to change this by raising baby elepants without it to demonstrate to Thailand that there is no need for it. See their website for more details. Thanks.
On Animal Planet they showed this last night, and they were showing paints done by elephants at the same place, but there was a painting by an elephant that they said went mad and killed someone, so they got rid of that Elephant. So not all of them like being painters or deal with people training them. Why did that on kill? Maybe becasue it hated being there and was abused in doing so.
The fact that they paint is really amazing and wonderful..the precise strokes, etc. However, one thing that disturbs me is that their ears are being pulled and that doesn't appeal to me. I wonder if it hurts them too much? I pray not.
you all realize that if they weren't painting or having a trainer do it, they wouldn't be makeing money to support themselves. Would you rather see this or their tusks on a wall and them be dead? You can say poor elephants and whatever you want but....painting a few pictures beats being dead to me anyday
At our local zoo, they told us it costs $900 a day to feed an elephant, so they use the elephants paintings to help pay for their food...actually, our zoo gets lots of animals to paint and they sell them at an annual auction as a fund raiser for various animal rights organizations...we got a meerkat painting.
The reality is that because these countries no longer rely on elephants to work, as they have in the past, the only way to continue to keep and care for them is to be able to come up with a way to have them be self-supporting. Anyone who has been to Thailand and has seen how the elephants ware treated there knows that they are still held in very high esteem and valued as part of the history of the country.
Just because the guy's holding the elephant doesn't necessarily mean he's yanking it like you would to a naughty boy. It's possible that the trainer is simply holding on to the elephant to reassure it, the way you hold a child's hand when in a new, probably nervewrecking situation. If I were a new elephant and I were suddenly brought to a field surrounded by annoying tourists watching me, I'd want my mentor to hold me too.
Ive seen some where the trainer just guides the elephant where to go then leaves and the elephant just start by itself and like Epi295, If you were just fed food and water and just sat around doing nothing wouldn't that be boring....
In the last frame the trainer has his arms crossed but there is a second person close to the elephant, slightly hidden, you can see their feet and legs.
The trainer doesn't always have a hand on the elephant. You can see in the last frame, one of them has his arms crossed while the elephant paints.
But regardless, working animals are not nessesarily abused or unhappy animals. Many animals in captivity will become bored and depressed if they're not given something challenging to do. This is true of working dogs certainly and I can definitly see this being true of elephants so lets not jump to conclusions shall we? I don't see any shock wands
It looks like an asian country, like one where they allow animal cruelty? Not that they don't allow it here. Barnum and Bailey have been torturing elephants forever. Sometimes they snap and tusk their tormentors to death. :D
I love it when the elephants strike back! Although it's sad to think what they must have gone through to be pushed so far, as they aren't naturally agressive as far as I know. And they usually end up being shot to end their rampage. I'm sad now :(
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JonThomas729 2 months ago
very interesting debates from this stimulating youtube. jademorris is a fine thinker. i love animals. the history of abuse of other creatures by humans is wretched. like every other "thing" we exploit. humanity may have developed fine powers of discrimination, aesthetics, philosophy, arts, music, poetry, but our behaviour is undeniably destructive and cruel. so only recently have "humanitarians" (strange term to use to describe those with positive and benevolent values) been active in
crowmangone 3 months ago
i pity them because of that logging industry...god bless elephants and all the people who try to save them
vamprix2 3 months ago 2
@sungate153 Oh, I see and are the money or "charity" money actually uses the money for charity? Also its not shameful, there is a chance that even the elephants don't mind. As long as both trainers and elephants are happy I'm alright with this trick.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
yes not ALL of these places treat the elephants terribly but alot do
Look in Youtube for these searchwords:
* behind the Siamese smile
* Thai elephants - abused entertainment
retardness13 5 months ago
@retardness13 Well have you heard of the Orangutan trainer in Las Vegas, turns out he isn't really an abusive trainer, also define HOW they 'torture' the animals.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
I have only the highest regard for the intelligence of ALL animals. I know for afact they are creative and sensitive beings. And i believe that elephants like to paint. But the paintings on all the you tube videos shows the trainer guiding them. Period.
arthurrobins 6 months ago
Many elephants and other animal paint in American zoos. It is a form of behavioral enrichment, much like you would give a dog a toy to keep him from being bored. It stimulates their mind. Yes, maybe the mahout is "helping" the elephant by guiding the elephant, but if you think about most artist, they have a teacher who guides them to. Elephants do paint and they can make decisions, don't you think they would eat their favorite food first before any other food? They are intelligent and beautiful
vykkicat 6 months ago
i know that the elephant has been trained to paint specific pictures, but it is painting them from memory!! that means that the elephant must be thinking in some kind of way!! and why do people think that animals can not think? they might not be so smart or intelligent, but i am convinced that they do think!!
klingest 6 months ago
4 howlong r we gonna abuse of ourselves,others,&ourPlanet?
TO LOVE &THE GENUINE BE THE GLORY;)!**LIGHT*HARMONY*
Wisdomrebirth 11 months ago
I believe that the Mahoot- trainer has his hand on the elephant and is guiding the elephant directly. Possibly behind the ears. Elephants can not paint. they can not make the DECISIONS that are being made because THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THESE THINGS. The mahoots trained them to MOVE THE PAINT BRUSH AT THEIR COMMAND.
arthurrobins 1 year ago
@arthurrobins You don't know that, the only think we know is that maybe they wouldn't chose to paint shitty flower compositions themselves, that's all.
derpestarzt 11 months ago
@arthurrobins You don't know that, the only think we know is that maybe they wouldn't chose to paint shitty flower compositions themselves, that's all.
derpestarzt 11 months ago
@arthurrobins How do you know that? it does not seem like that the trainer is guiding it, so how did you came to that conclusion? You just dont want to believe that elephants can paint, because that is against your general believe, that all animals are mindless idiots!! But you have just seen that this is not true, and stille your are closing your eyes saying I DONT WANNA BELIEVE THIS!!! THIS IS NOT TRUE!!! your are an idiot!!
klingest 6 months ago
@arthurrobins I agree with you, but of course there could be instances where there are some elephants who enjoy painting in their own will
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
are the ppl controlling what they are painting?
Mimmio97 1 year ago
Ever seen how elephants are being trained? It's so cruel it makes you crie.
Saartje05 1 year ago 2
@Saartje05 your grammar makes me "crie"
SteffySilvaGurl 1 year ago
@SteffySilvaGurl So I made a mistake. I'm not English but Dutch. I'm sure my English is a LOT better than your Dutch. Wanna bet?
Saartje05 1 year ago 7
@Saartje05 Damn, your grammar
Droamen 8 months ago
@Droamen How's your Dutch?
Saartje05 8 months ago
@Saartje05 fine thanks, duhh WINNING
Droamen 8 months ago
The question is how are they trained and learn to paint. People want to know because they believe they are abused in training. Seeing is believing . If there is proof they are not abused in the process i`d pay for a painting.
loveisnow2 1 year ago 2
The elephants don't see what they're painting.
If the only way to get funds to save them is through them painting then be it, but ideally they would be doing whatever they like to do as elephants.
When are humans going to value elephants for what they are, rather than what they do to please us.
andycorreia 1 year ago
i totally agree with u ! but it seems like elephants have no choice but to earn their living too !
ongchenchen1017 1 year ago
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@andycorreia
I totally agree with u ! but it seems like elephants have to earn their living too !
ongchenchen1017 1 year ago
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fyi elephants don't paint this way of their own volition, they have been trained to duplicate images for sale to tourists. inquiring minds can find TRUE creations from elephant artists. see elephant art gallery spotting a fake
lddrummerhill 1 year ago
Trainer tugs on elephant's ear to get him to move the trunk. Elephant is trained with classical conditioning. That's why they only show the brush; the animal has no idea what it's doing. It's like a parrot talking. See video "why elephants paint".
beejor 2 years ago
If you believe that, then why dose the Elefhant pic particular subjects? thease animals are trained to paint on command for the tourist humans, but Elephants will pain of their own accord if the tools are available. I have used cards painted by elephants for years, they chose their own subjects. it is also clear that by showing that the concept of depth of field is apparent to the 'painter'[by painting the two 'farther away legs , after the two closer ones} the 'artist' shows cognascence.
JUNKYARDOGvideos 2 years ago 4
@beejor Parrots don't just mimic. I've had a short conversation with one. They know what they're saying.
Boolglunk 1 year ago
@beejor Man it's an animal not a muppet. How do you explain the trainer getting flowers through the elephant? Do they them all attend "train elephants to paint for you" class or what?
lolwuthomes 1 year ago
@beejor I think that is impossible: by simply pulling a trunk the handler put accross information to the elephant. The only in wich the elephant can do this is by actually seeing and understanding what they are doing. Elephants are many times stronger than their keepers and will not do anything they dont want to. And as you know elephants have about the biggest brains apart from whales, a lot bigger then ours, so why shouldnt they be able to do this??
MrHendrik02 1 year ago
Boo-Hooo most successful people endure a certain amount of "pain.(.........if you want to play the moral relativty card) a few years of pain~~~~~>=can support themselves and odthers............My jury is out on just how bad this is in the Macro......
Toppersbazaar 2 years ago
For TRUTH & the FACTS. Check out the youtube video called " the elephant lady ". It's about Lek Chairlet in Thailand & her TRUE rescue work & about the Elephant Nature Park she founded. Also known as the Elephant Nature Foundation. Included is FILM of the Pajaan process ritual that ALL the elephants doing painting, trekking, tricks, street begging etc are put thru. Lek is rescueing elephants near death because of the poor diets abuse cruelty broken bodies broken spirits. God Bless Lek.
deenap1 2 years ago 25
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soultwinsistas 2 years ago
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Thank you, Thank you, Thank you deenap1for your comments!!!!!! I just got back from the Elephant Nature Park, and got to spend time with Lek. Learning about the true torture that these baby elephants go through to "learn to paint" was heart wrenching!!!! Please learn what you are supporting before you ever support elephant painting! These babies are taken away from their mommies and beaten and tortures into submission..... it is just horrible!!!
soultwinsistas 2 years ago
@deenap1 wow I knew there was something fishy about all of this
farhmoha 1 year ago
@farhmoha what is fishy on this...i didn't see nothing strange , may u explain mee?...i think this is so cute but im afraid of believing something that can not be true :(....sorry 4 my english
harlequingirlpatd 1 year ago
@harlequingirlpatd Hey, I will send you the video that was brought to my attention by @deenap called "The Elephant Lady". After seeing that video it will really open up your eyes about how they treat elephants.
farhmoha 1 year ago
@deenap1 Yes!! I love Lek and what she's done. I've volunteered at ENP twice and now I'm working on ENF's Surin Project. Eles are intelligent and they can likely paint a beautiful picture on their own IF they wanted. But, instead they go through torture so they learn to be submissive and hold a brush on their own and paint when told. People can argue that they "look" happy, but that's just appearance. People should educate themselves on how they are trained to do these paintings, as you said.
littlefurballs 11 months ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
@PiggyBlackWhite Forsome reason your comment showed up in my messages folder, but it's deleted here. I DO educate myself on this. have seen firsthand (videos&real life examples) of elephants being tortured in pajaan and the bulhookfor these paintings (as well as other things such as trekking, circuses). I am also not against positive training, but not all cases use positive training for things such as painting. So, I err on the side of caution and don't support things like this, but sanctuaries
littlefurballs 4 months ago
@littlefurballs Ohhh I see! Sorry, I was too emotional to think about others! D;;
I understand now thank you!
PiggyBlackWhite 4 months ago
from what ive seen in maesa(chiang mai)the elephants are well treated...far from being abused. not just theyre properly fed but the tourist are welcome to feed them as well. theres no sign of any elephants in poor health. if u happen to visit, check how happy the elephants here compare to the other places. in regards the painting...yes they are trained to paint, like humans i suppose but not everyone can paint that accurate. believe me theyre magnificent wit theyre eyes and trunk coordination.
mariamanish2007 2 years ago 4
Have you seen the training first hand? Of course they are NEVER going to show abuse upfront, that would be like a child rapist raping a child in front of a crowd.
Candyann22 2 years ago 2
Have you seen the training upfront?
Thai elephants are tamed in a ceremony called the Phajaan, they are deprived of food, water &sleep and are poked and proded with bamboo sticks with nails imbedded in the end, knives and are also shot with stones and other projectiles. This is meant to break the spirit of the elephant. After Phajaan the elephants endure more horrifying torture when they are trained at knifepoint to paint pictures, play instruments or forced to stand on their head.
Candyann22 2 years ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
@PiggyBlackWhite You only speak ignorance and yes I have been there.Turn a blind eye and the elephant will die, extinct in our children's lifetime, how sad.
Candyann22 5 months ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
I would also like to add that a real sanctuary would never put chains around their elephants necks. You should check out elephant nature foundation for a real elephant rescue. These fake rescues are very profitable.
Candyann22 2 years ago 4
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
@PiggyBlackWhite To even suggest any other problem irrelevant compared to human plight is insane. Why not let the world just crumble in our hands. You're a waste of a decent discussion, I'm done talking with you.
Candyann22 5 months ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
PS, older than you.....
Candyann22 5 months ago
I've spent time at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre & hospital. The elephants there are loved & not abused. A lot of them suffered at the end of the logging industry because the mahouts couldn't afford to feed them. Paintings are sold to help pay for their treatment and maintenance. They're trained to paint by the mahout holding their trunk & then moving further back to the ear when they remember the movements. The elephants seemed to be genuinely happy - bright eyed & playful.
zapolavik 3 years ago 51
I'm very glad to hear of your experience at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre & hospital. - Based on the video uploader's description. It appears to me that this video was taken there. Can you please confirm if that is true? Thank you.
im4wur 2 years ago
@zapolavik but then why are the animal trainers holding the back side of the ears of the elephants?
Also not trying to be cynical, but do the owners actually willing to give the money to pay for the food for the elephants?
Note I am not an anti animal training or entertainment person
just thought that it was weird that the trainer was holding the back ear of the elephant..
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
There's obviously some kind of instrument that the trainer uses behind the animal's ear. Maybe a pointed stick or something electric.
musicdivinemusic 3 years ago
@musicdivinemusic I doubt its a pointed stick or electricity involved, its more or less likely certain gestures behind the elephants ears.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
i know how its done there are controlls under the elephants ears. nice try i bet you could do this with the elephants at disneyland
unrooolie 3 years ago
controls? what? are you thinking something like an etcha-sketch or a tractor beam? maybe a joystick, dipstick? no? it must be obvious- a remote trunk access control button just like the one in the car? no? touch screen? controls....got it!
color and tint !!!! i'm betting the more advanced ones get horizontal and vert controls. before long maybe all this can happen via remote "control" . how perceptive of you to pick up on the controls under their ears.....i'd would have missed it.
rotatingwah 2 years ago 5
Hmm, could be right. Although, I'm wondering if the control mechanism isn't under the ears, but rather a proper (or not so proper) torquing of the tail. - A messy business I'm sure.
im4wur 2 years ago
Remote controlled.
im4wur 2 years ago
Maybe telepathy??
naturegirl92584 2 years ago 2
yea just like ur brain dumbass
ABoy877 2 years ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
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rotatingwah 5 months ago
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PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
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rotatingwah 5 months ago
@rotatingwah Well you kinder than I thought and thank you anyways.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
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rotatingwah 5 months ago
Respond to this video... I sure do hope your honest about you deleting your post and I deleted mine. Also your a very intelligent person, even though you said that comment previously, and its more like ignorance not stupidity, I'm still pretty pissed at myself for offending you really.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
@rotatingwah So yes sorry, and please don't offend me further. I didn't mean to sound ignorant, I was just wondering. Also even if your comment wasn't intended to be offensive (I doubt it), I am offended. That wasn't nice. I did not wanted to offend you in the first place. I apologize.
PiggyBlackWhite 5 months ago
The PREVIOUS COMMENT mentioning the outlawing of logging (timber industry) means to clarify that formerly these elephants worked carrying logs, and now they have no place after the outlawing of logging. I THINK ELEPHANTS there NEED A PRESERVE. THAT REQUIRES LETTERS to the Government of Thailand from Americans and interest internationally in this issue. Why don't you write that letter, Marjorie ? Or whoever posted this video. Don't just complain. DO SOMETHING. Its easy to complain.
StellarJaguarEngine 3 years ago
OK, just by seeing this, it seems that they never let go of the elephant, by the ear, if you notice, and some of the trainers, still have a stick, I guess those are the new trainees, therefore they still need to scare them. I particularly do not trust anything that is related to humans, concerning animals, if is not only freedom.
rahla53 3 years ago 2
It fucking disgusts me how people act towards animals, when we realize Elephants can paint & demonstrate an intelligence we would of never thought they were capable of do we treat them any better maby even give them the respect of an equily sentient creature is due? FUCK NO! We turn the whole spectical into a form of intertainment for tourists to gawk at. I relly hope the whole human race gets wiped out by the flu.
kingsman565 3 years ago 3
they draw better then me =]
JESUSisKINGsoREPENT 3 years ago
wow i dint realize that the elephants that painted were abused. i wonder if they could still paint if they were raised in a loving environment?
highplainsdrifter08 3 years ago
I like the painting.
But the elephants dont like the pain!
snoobl 3 years ago
it's amazing they can do that....but it is unfortunate, that as humans, we need animals for entertainment...we will take their lives away for it.
slboardwoman 3 years ago 2
Thank you x.
ww w. Goodsearch. com
Please use this website it is for charity
Thank you x.
teaparty92 3 years ago
every elephant belongs in the wild, that is why some of them get pissed off and stomp their trainers
johnlenly 3 years ago
noo thats because theres a time periode where male elefhants get a little angry....like a girl during those day.....when the trainers ignore the sympthoms they get crazy and start attaking ppl....thats why they have to be tied up until they calm down again
...........saw on animal planet =]
Zhokolatiko 3 years ago
that does not change the fact that every elephant belongs in the wild
johnlenly 3 years ago 4
well yeah, thats true
Zhokolatiko 3 years ago
these elephants are captured at a very young age and forced to learn to paint for tourists pleasure. The trainers issue voice commands and use a nail to poke the elephant if they don't follow
johnlenly 3 years ago 2
wow this herts my scabula how do thay paint so you must have a lot of skill no lie
pimpmychimp120 3 years ago
hm.... i hope they aren't forced to paint... but apparently thats what it looks like.
kdwormy 3 years ago
Elephants paint to keep their minds off the fact that they want to rip out the heart of their captors.
drawnhere 3 years ago 3
Everyone else whines, so it is the norm for us to do so as well. To simplify things, one must just edit the words (and contractions thereof) "not" "never" "no" "hopefully" and "in the future" out of their vocabulary. The continual redirecting of your focus to the now and the positive (I dare not say "good" because there is no good and bad, only foolish and wise) is seemingly the most difficult thing for the masses to do, and the comments left by the majority of you still only proves this truth.
jademorris 3 years ago
I have not pushed any negative vibes into the universe over this. If you have felt negativity, "spiritsinger," I suggest you examine your own spirit and agenda a little more closely and figure out why you can't let go and be optimistic. ANYONE can bitch and moan. It is the hardest thing in the world to learn to see only the good in every situation. I challenge anyone to try it for just one day, even. Not half-assed, either. Don't say "I'm happy it's not raining." Say, "I'm happy it's sunny."
jademorris 3 years ago
you are disconnected. And if the meaning of life is true connection to everything and everyone, than at that moment, you are fighting life. And that's when Karma steps in to restore the balance you've tampered with. They call it the law of attraction -- focus on the negative, and more negative comes into your life. I see it as way more. It's the constant fight against connection to the now that dooms so many. I never experienced guilt over these elephants. It was never a part of my pie.
jademorris 3 years ago
For example: I know a girl who, when she drinks, only wants to talk about how horrible her ex treated her in the past. She'll cling to these memories and use them to show how we're different(or separate) and I'll never understand her problems. Our pasts are WAY more similar than she'll ever know, but I can not understand or relate to her because I don't understand people who can't learn to live in the now. You may not realize it, but every time you are dwelling on something in a different time,
jademorris 3 years ago
You are all missing the point. Why focus on the means by which this elephant learned to accomplish something amazing? I have no "better than thou" attitude, and either you completely misunderstood me, or you need to rediscover the definition of the word "pious". In every argument, I like to look at who is trying to connect and who is trying to remain separate. Those clinging to a negative past are just grabbing at yet another point of separation.
jademorris 3 years ago
jademorris, while i am happy you have found a way to ease your burdens of guilt over the elephants, you are out of line in your attacks over the comments left here. you dont know any of the people you condemn personally so quit with the pious attitude already. everyone has a right to speak what they feel, this and if anyone is pushing negative feelings or vibes in the universe it is you and your better than thou attitude.
SpiritSinger 3 years ago
All of you who are actually doing something about this "elephant abuse" problem, instead of just flapping your mouths, please post a genuine comment. Let us know how these specific youtube posts inspired you, and what steps you have actually taken to correct said problem. Keep in mind, talking about it outside of youtube does not count either, but rather that falls under the flapping-of-the-mouth category, which again is just investing more negative energy into our universe.
jademorris 3 years ago
Am I the only one that is amazed by these animal's ability to do this? I mean, be it via training or inspiration~ it's still an amazing & beautiful thing. I don't know of any other animal that can be trained to do this type of thing. And, if you know anything about abused animals...you know they tend to rebel and NOT comply after abuse, they cower & ignore, then retaliate. Elephants use the same response traits. These elephants are too "obedient" or responsive. Probably well trained, not abused.
siddigrl 3 years ago 3
is that guy telling the elephant what to do? it looks sad to watch, but i bet they have chains on the elephant so it doesn't try to run off and accidentaly crush someone. you never know. the video i watched before was really amazing. i just hope they aren't abused into doing that. : (
MyLifeWillChange 3 years ago
Do any of you complainers think these abusers are going to stop abusing just because you left negative feedback on youtube? Has no one ever heard of the law of attraction? I suggest some serious time be spent researching Esther Hicks. If you want to bring about positive change, quitcherbitchin. Good luck to all you sad people. There is no real happiness out there for you because you will always find a more miserable thought to wallow in & new ways to possibly drag others into your hell with you.
jademorris 3 years ago
there's no need to drag your magical thinking into this.
drvector 3 years ago
hmm.. who's bitching? who has miserable thoughts?
dancingplanet 3 years ago
The only creatures with "crushed spirits" are those who refuse to let go of the past. I don't believe these elephants have learned to express themselves through painting. It is obvious they were taught to paint specific things. The only reason I felt the need to comment on the ignorance of the majority of you fools is because you're accomplishing nothing. Go adopt an elephant if you're so moved. That's what I'm in the process of doing. Quit focusing on negative, biased, hearsay.
jademorris 3 years ago
yikes... talk about negative and biased!
dancingplanet 3 years ago
for those of you crying abuse...these elephants have actually been rescued FROM abuse rather than this being a case OF abuse...and as for painting being abuse...these are highly intelligent animals...as such, painting gives them an opportunity to express themselves...much as it does for us. we enjoy painting and other creative things to keep our minds and selves busy and not bored...why should an elephant, one of the most intelligent of animals, be any different...
SpiritSinger 3 years ago
The elephants trained to follow mahouts command out of fear of abuse suffered during training called pajaan that crushes the elephants spirit.A baby is roped in a small cage and can't move.Its beaten,starved, deprived to submission. Survivors are left with physical,emotional scars forever.The elephant moves a brush by commands from the mahout.The elephants arent happy and work out of fear.Go the Elephant Nature Park north of Chiang Mai Thailand. Learn what the park does to save them from abuse.
Xokkeikatt 3 years ago 2
Yeah I beleive what you say. The trainer is making the elephant do this. Some people think the elephant likes doing this and gets satifaction from it. The elephant can't even see what he is painting they are very farsighted. Also in the Far east they skin animals alive for fur. I do ot trust the East.
allexx123 3 years ago
I believe elephants are very intelligent and sensitive creatures. However, I also believe that these elephants were trained to paint specific images by a process that was most likely very traumatic for the elephant. It is sad to see such an intelligent and amazing creature perhaps abused yet again... but don't let the possible fact of it's abuse blind you (i'm talking to everyone) to the elephants inherent intelligence.
dancingplanet 3 years ago
gods creatures are amazing
mommaswatchinU 3 years ago
Complaining about and focusing on the unfairnesses of the world accomplishes nothing.
jademorris 3 years ago
actually, it is fantastic that people complain about this stuff on youtube, because we live in an age now where people read each others comments from all around the world and so it raises awareness. It gets people talking. It spreads the word. If we all just put up with everything bad in the world and didn't complain, how would things ever change for the better and how would peoples minds become educated on topics? Your attitude stinks.
joanand13 3 years ago 2
My reaction to this video (and similar videos) has been, "wow, what an incredible thing for a creature to do." My dog will do tricks for treats and walk beside me, but I'm sure he'd much rather be running with a pack of wild dogs, "socializing." Learning trades that bore us, captivity, repetition, abuse -- these things ARE a part of OUR lives, and while they seem unfair, we learn to function positively in spite of them. Can you not learn to "smell the flowers?"
jademorris 3 years ago
it is most likely that the elephant was cruely abused in order to learn this skill. and that is wrong. period.
dancingplanet 3 years ago
Except that they actually weren't. And where do you get this strange idea that that's the most effective way to teach something?
gingerweasel2 3 years ago
Ok really? I'm assuming the majority of you who are displeased with this video have a lot of experience with elephants to be able to interpret the expression on this particular elephant's face. And I'm also assuming that you (still addressing the overly-dramatic crowd) have no pets. It is a shame that certain trainers (for any realm or field, be it human or animal) use negative reinforcement instead of positive. You are not separate from this negativity by focusing on the negativity.
jademorris 3 years ago
Look how sad the elephant's faces look, it makes me feel like crying. I can't believe they don't make this "Elephant painting" illegal.
atord1987 3 years ago
The elephant looks so unhappy, how sad. And look at those chains those idiots put on the poor elephants. Those elephants deserve to be in the wild, socializing with one another, roaming free, not being forced to do anything, leave the painting art for humans, keep wild animals out of this.
atord1987 3 years ago
Whoever pays them to see this is encouraging animal abuse. Of course they have to "paint" and "entertain people", if they don't they will get beat up by those poor excuses for humans. Who knows what goes on behind the curtains? Why don't you teach little kids to paint and entertain people? Will that be funny and entertaining to watch? This is just sad, leave the elephants in the wild, where they came from, they were not made for holding a brush by their trunk and being forced to paint.
atord1987 3 years ago
journeyman47 Thank you for the information. I dont like to see any animal or people, plants being abuse or terrorized. I really feel for these elephants!
lsophial 3 years ago
For all you who are wondering, in Thailand the elephants are beaten and yanked with bullhooks to train them. While training, up to four men hit and jab them for hours at a time. And that's not even mentioning the "phajaan", the Thai "crushing" ritual where baby elephants' spirits are broken by horrible beatings, starvation and torture. Please don't support this abuse by going to elephant shows. Personally, I'd rather see them behaving naturally, like in the Elephant Nature Park. Look it up.
journeyman47 3 years ago 4
ooh... srry i couldent see the whips or anything.
halflife103 3 years ago
Half~ I didn't say whips; the don't use them. They use bullhooks, also known as an "ankus". They keep them low and try to hide their use from the customers when they're visiting. But when they're gone, the bullhooks come out and are used liberally, to terrify the elephants into doing whatever they want. There's lots of evidence of this online and in books about elephants. Check it out some time.
journeyman47 3 years ago
oh srry man.. im have kinda memory thing.. but thanks for the info... i feel like such a ass for what i wrote... thanks
halflife103 3 years ago
No worries, mate, you didn't know. Sorry I called you that name.
Anyway, glad I could help "show you the light"! Now you can help spread the word...
Take care!
journeyman47 3 years ago
poor elephants. i do not find this beautiful at all. instead of admiring their "art" it brought tears to my eyes. the chains around the elephants are obvious they;ve been trained to do this and i would hate to imagine how they were trained. this only shows how intelligent these gentle giants are, they shold not be 'painting' for our entertainment. Its just so unnnatural
yojay7 3 years ago
yea? you done crying? this is not the place for this..
halflife103 3 years ago
Halfwit--I mean, Halflife, this is EXACTLY the place for it-- a place to share comments and ideas. That's what it says above: "Post a comment"-- just like YOU did.
journeyman47 3 years ago
Totaly agree!!!
vondelmolen 3 years ago
This title does not live up to it's name and explain why an elephant paints. It's just a random video.
OrmEmber 3 years ago 5
This is not what it looks like when an elephant paints of it own accord. Poor elephants.
captivity 3 years ago
These elephants were tortured before, now they are protected, and like everyone else in this world, we must work for our food. So the elephants are doing just that and more, they have lovely people around them, excluding the man with a STICK on his hands. That I dont like it.I hope that he does not use that stick on the elephant to make the elephant obey and paint!
lsophial 3 years ago 2
Isophila, my poor, deluded friend. That "stick" is a bullhook, which has a sharp steel hook on it that is used liberally by the mahouts to make the elephants do what they want. They know where the sensitive areas are like the mouth, ears and anus, and yank them there til it hurts. As for those "lovely" people, they all help abuse the elephants until they learn their tricks for clueless tourists who pay them money. Sorry, but if you think the elephants are "protected" there, they ain't.
journeyman47 3 years ago
I'm sure they ARE trained, but so am I, and it doesn't make me any less of an artist. Elephants are very sensitive and beautiful creatures. let's not be human-centric and think we have the monopoly on being able to create. There are whole books written about animals who create.
RachelEMacD 3 years ago 4
the trainer seems to be tugging on the elephant's ear in 00:27. i personally believe they mistreat animals in the circus, or wherever animals are being manipulated and trained by humans for profit and entertainment. i think it would be very evident that they are trained to paint, and are not acting on it through their own desire to paint, if the different elephants are painting the same images.
cspan0004 3 years ago
There was no explanation to why the elephants paint so the title to this video is misleading!
universalsheets 3 years ago
no the title is not misleading, the video shows the trainer forcing the elephant to do something it probably doesn't do naturally
the video suggests that the elephants are not acting of their own accord but are forced, probably by lots of pain, to make repetitive images
VictoriaVickyNguyen 3 years ago
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YEAH? animals are so inteelegent, next you'll want them to vote and own a house and have money.... dumb people shouldn't talk and when I say dumb I mean you animal lovers. its clear as day thats its ah stupid elephant!
xcmet 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
thats ah stupid elephant!
xcmet 3 years ago
This is the greatest achievement
mmcho 3 years ago
Elephants are intelligent, sentient, emotional, social, majestic beings. We should respect them and recognize them as our brothers and sisters here on Earth. We just cannot communicate with them in the ways we would like to, but we can find ways.
nschenk 3 years ago 6
guys-do some homework..these elephants are lucky to be alive since their natural habitat is gone and they no longer serve any purpose because there is no more timber harvesting..this is a wonderful chance for them much as it is for polar bears who live in Central Park in NYC...get with the program and stop being skeptical...this is a good thing for the elephants...better than the alternatives.
nystan1 3 years ago 2
Who are are YOU to determine that they no longer serve any purpose. Elephants weren't created JUST for timber harvesting. You make no sense. It's like saying you worked for a company for 80 years & oh no, your company went under & you're now out of a job. Gee, I guess your only other option (other than death or the "alternatives") is to paint/entertain a bunch of tourists while someone's prodding & harshly saying commands to you. Yeah, that makes COMPLETE sense. Wow, you're genius.
mirroredfacadesdie 3 years ago
like I said, if you read what I wrote, which you did not is that the elephants in Asia no longer have a habitat to live in and there is no sustainable way for them to be kept. Perhaps, instead of trying to be a cynic, you can set up an elephant trust and purchase a few thousand acres of land for them. If you just did a little reading instead of making stupid comments that are ill informed, you might be able to add positive energy into the world instead of writing uniformed you tube comments.
nystan1 3 years ago
Saying that an elephant "no longer serve[s] any purpose" is not the same as "there is no sustainable way for them to be kept." I DID read what you wrote in your initial comment, dearest all-knowing Stan. Your follow-up comments are much more thorough and the condescending tone of your words are absolutely unnecessary. I'm sure you find your daily pleasure in writing trains of online "comments," but simmer down. :)
mirroredfacadesdie 3 years ago
nope-you are the only person to go out of their way to try to spin a comment like that by assuming the cynical. Up to now, I have enjoyed nothing but positive postings...maybe you were having a bad day nothing personal. I just didn't enjoy the attempt to 'paint a bad picture.'
nystan1 3 years ago
and another thing, since you cannot read what is written, I did not invent the timber industry or condone it. The SIMPLE TRUTH is that without it, these poor animals would have been wiped off the face of the earth 50 years ago. You should learn how to comprehend words...since I didn't say any of the things you claim, as in I DETERMINED THIS-what a numbnut.
nystan1 3 years ago
WHAT??! Are you serious?!! The timber industry has prevented these animals from being wiped off the face of the Earth?! Deforestation is one of the biggest threats to animal conservation, and to our existence even! Destruction of complex and delicate ecosystems, removal of CO2 filtering system and production of oxygen, depletion of minerals from soil once supported by forest and removal of natural barriers to landslides which is why the Thai gov, banned logging. I mean really - are you high?!
SavetheAsianElephant 3 years ago 2
and finally, mirrorfacadeobviouslyneedscleaning-the painting elephants in the US zoos are not abused or beaten. They just happen to love to paint. Not that complicated.
nystan1 3 years ago
I agreed that those elephants have been trained and torture before coz how could there be so many talented elephants knowing how to paint at the same time, those things must be trained man! Remember they did not make any mistakes in painting, u think that is really easy?
tonyykh108 3 years ago
In the wild elephans will get pissed at people and charge and kill people, and yes they have to be trained to do everything including painting.
allexx123 3 years ago
This is a beautiful video. You can hear the children laughing and a happy joyful atmosphere. The elephants seem to accept the painting as a way to please their handlers and are not being abused in any way. What a wonderful way to show the world how intelligent and beautiful elephants really are! Thank you for posting.
freecatpaws 3 years ago 3
A tame eliphant always looks nice, but to get a tame eliphant, the eliphant has to undergo a training, in which the eliphant is tortured and abused when the eliphant is very very young, so that the eliphant accepts the humans as its "master". Also, the mothers are killed in the wild, to get the young. It looks nice, but it isn't. The fact that tourists like it and give money for it, and think it is al nice, is causing more eliphants to get killed and abused.
laurens890 3 years ago
You can't present an argument with absolutely no evidence what so ever. For all i know, you just made all that up. How do you know that they are tortured? Did you see them when it happened? Where's the proof of what your saying? Please don't post such a stupid argument when you havn't put forth any real evidence as to what your saying.
VYSLED 3 years ago
Vysled~ I'm afraid Laurens didn't make that up... what she said is true. All domesticated elephants in Thailand are tortured when young in the "phajaan" ritual in order to "break" them-- believed (erroneously) to be the only way to control them. There is plenty of video footage of this online. Fortunately the Elephant Nature Park is trying to change this by raising baby elepants without it to demonstrate to Thailand that there is no need for it. See their website for more details. Thanks.
journeyman47 3 years ago
On Animal Planet they showed this last night, and they were showing paints done by elephants at the same place, but there was a painting by an elephant that they said went mad and killed someone, so they got rid of that Elephant. So not all of them like being painters or deal with people training them. Why did that on kill? Maybe becasue it hated being there and was abused in doing so.
allexx123 3 years ago
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This is the exact reason why animals in circuses should be outlawed!!! Just because we're too stupid to figure them out doesn't mean they're 'dumb'.
animalliberation0961 3 years ago 7
these elephants are great artists and they seem very happy doing their work-most humans don't even try to draw
slapbang 3 years ago
The fact that they paint is really amazing and wonderful..the precise strokes, etc. However, one thing that disturbs me is that their ears are being pulled and that doesn't appeal to me. I wonder if it hurts them too much? I pray not.
nurjehan 3 years ago
What frame did you see the elephants ears getting pulled? They drop their brush when they need more paint. Are you sure you saw ear pulling?
Byakamura 3 years ago
you all realize that if they weren't painting or having a trainer do it, they wouldn't be makeing money to support themselves. Would you rather see this or their tusks on a wall and them be dead? You can say poor elephants and whatever you want but....painting a few pictures beats being dead to me anyday
paco694 3 years ago 7
At our local zoo, they told us it costs $900 a day to feed an elephant, so they use the elephants paintings to help pay for their food...actually, our zoo gets lots of animals to paint and they sell them at an annual auction as a fund raiser for various animal rights organizations...we got a meerkat painting.
lrosmond 3 years ago 6
Okay I take it all back , they are painting , I am duly humiliated . Sigh . I spent years in art school and they are making more than I am .
Faymoose1 3 years ago 3
The reality is that because these countries no longer rely on elephants to work, as they have in the past, the only way to continue to keep and care for them is to be able to come up with a way to have them be self-supporting. Anyone who has been to Thailand and has seen how the elephants ware treated there knows that they are still held in very high esteem and valued as part of the history of the country.
TrenetGirl 3 years ago 4
Just because the guy's holding the elephant doesn't necessarily mean he's yanking it like you would to a naughty boy. It's possible that the trainer is simply holding on to the elephant to reassure it, the way you hold a child's hand when in a new, probably nervewrecking situation. If I were a new elephant and I were suddenly brought to a field surrounded by annoying tourists watching me, I'd want my mentor to hold me too.
Yidenia 3 years ago 7
LOL!!!
FOWLMUSIC 3 years ago
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very sad to see this poor animal get treated this way
orjela22 3 years ago
Ive seen some where the trainer just guides the elephant where to go then leaves and the elephant just start by itself and like Epi295, If you were just fed food and water and just sat around doing nothing wouldn't that be boring....
Someoneizalive 3 years ago
In the last frame the trainer has his arms crossed but there is a second person close to the elephant, slightly hidden, you can see their feet and legs.
epi295 3 years ago 4
The trainer doesn't always have a hand on the elephant. You can see in the last frame, one of them has his arms crossed while the elephant paints.
But regardless, working animals are not nessesarily abused or unhappy animals. Many animals in captivity will become bored and depressed if they're not given something challenging to do. This is true of working dogs certainly and I can definitly see this being true of elephants so lets not jump to conclusions shall we? I don't see any shock wands
YokoPolaris 3 years ago 5
It looks like an asian country, like one where they allow animal cruelty? Not that they don't allow it here. Barnum and Bailey have been torturing elephants forever. Sometimes they snap and tusk their tormentors to death. :D
mutedmajority 3 years ago 4
I love it when the elephants strike back! Although it's sad to think what they must have gone through to be pushed so far, as they aren't naturally agressive as far as I know. And they usually end up being shot to end their rampage. I'm sad now :(
bessymouse 3 years ago 3