Elephant Paint

[journeyman47]

There are many reasons why this is wrong and shouldn't be supported, but mainly because Asian elephant babies are torn from their mothers and broken to be docile enough to make the paintings, give rides, etc. The "breaking" ritual (phaajaan) is a horrible week-long session of torture that's so bad many elephants don't even survive. Not to mention the cruelty of separating babies from mothers and aunties.

Lek Chailert of the Elephant Sanctuary asks you to please not support this abuse. Thanks.

[danii2610]

this isnt a trick just for the public. this is just one of the many ways they keep their elephants stimulated and feeling alive. they have many activites through out their day that relate to training and keeper interaction. this way, the keepers can stay with in close contact incase the elephants do need medical attention, and to create trust between elephant and keeper. i have it on good authority that the keepers at MZ truly have the elephants well being as their highest priority.

[enigreg]

I challenge everyone who sees this and is disgusted by it, to contact the zoo and let them know your feelings.

[journeyman47]

I was just in Melbourne and I'm glad I didn't go to that zoo; because if I had, I would have demanded that the zoo stop making the elephants do silly tricks for tourists and let them behave naturally, as they should. Of course elephants are intelligent, anyone with eyes knows this. They don't need to perform tricks daily to prove it.

[captivity]

This is what it looks like when an elephant really paints.