The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is native to Thailand and several other countries across South and Southeast Asia, including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, and, in small numbers, parts of Bangladesh, and Nepal.
The elephant has played an important role in Thailand’s history, culture, and even religion. The high regard and reverence the Thais have for the noble elephant were reflected by the use of an elephant on a former version of Thailand’s national flag. Many Thais like to compare the outline of Thailand to an elephant’s head, with Hat Yai forming the tip of the trunk, Bangkok the mouth, Sukhothai the eye, and Lampang the eyebrow.
Elephants in Thailand History Timeline
- According to Buddhist tradition, Queen Maya dreamed of a white elephant entering her womb before giving birth to Prince Siddhartha.
- The earliest records of war elephants in what is now Thailand date to the Khmer period during the 9th century.
- In 1593 Thailand’s King Naresuan killed Burma’s Crown Prince Mingyi Swa when the two met in single combat while riding war elephants.
- War elephants gradually disappeared from military use during the late 19th century as firearms and artillery became dominant.
- Estimates suggest that Thailand may once have supported around 100,000 wild elephants, along with a similar number of domesticated elephants.
- From 1855 to 1917 the flag of Thailand featured an elephant.
- The advent of modern warfare, namely artillery and mechanization meant the elephant was ineffective in battle.
- The advent of motorized vehicles in the 1900s meant the elephants use as a utility vehicle was in less demand.
- In 1989 the Thai government imposed a logging ban, effectively rendering the majority of Thailand’s working elephants redundant.
- Today there are around 4,000 wild elephants, and 2,000 – 3,000 domestic elephants remaining in Thailand.
- The present-day plight of both wild and domestic elephants in Thailand has come under much scrutiny.
Thailand’s War Elephants
History suggests that elephants were first used on the battlefield in India as early as the 4th century B.C. The mighty War Elephants helped the Khmer during their conquests of Southeast Asia from the 9th century through to the 15th century. After the collapse of the Khmer empire, the might of the elephant was used in battle by neighboring countries including Thailand.
Thailand’s ruling kings employed the elephant in battle, most notably during the 300-year war against Burma. The colossal size of the elephant effectively made it a medieval tank. It was used to break enemy lines and wreak havoc on the enemy soldiers. One Thai King was reputed to have as many as 20,000 war elephants in his ranks.
White Elephants In Thailand
Due to their association with the birth of Buddha, White Elephants are revered and receive protected status in Thailand. If a White Elephant meets the criteria, it becomes the property of the King of Thailand. Besides their religious significance, White Elephants are also a symbol of a king’s power.
Wild Elephants in Thailand
The plight of the wild elephant in Thailand is characteristic of the plight of wild animal populations worldwide. Human encroachment and loss of natural habitat are the major contributing factors that have caused the demise of Thailand’s Asian Elephant herds. It’s ironic that the elephant has been an unwitting and unwilling contributor to its own demise
Elephants were the backbone of Thailand’s logging industry, which in turn is responsible for diminishing Thailand’s forest cover from 90 percent in 1900 to about 30 percent today. Nowadays, the wild elephant herds of Thailand are protected, efforts are being made to prevent poaching and to protect what remains of their natural habitat. The largest numbers of wild elephants can be seen in national parks, such as Khao Yai.
FACT: heavy monsoon rains in 1988 caused widespread flooding and landslides, in the aftermath of the damage the Thai government imposed a ban on logging. Furthermore, an initiative was set in place to reforest the areas left barren by logging, unfortunately, most of the species used for reforesting were not a suitable diet for the elephant population.
Reasons for the demise of Thailand’s Wild Elephants
- Deforestation caused by logging.
- Herds isolated by highways.
- Humanization.
- Conflict with farmers.
- Poaching for ivory.
- Lack of suitable food to forage.
- Capture of young elephants for commercial use.
- Reduced genetic diversity due to isolated populations.
Domestic Elephants In Thailand
Before Thailand became mechanized, elephants were relied on heavily, they were the workhorses of Thailand, used as transport, in warfare, and most notably in the inhospitable rain forests where their strength, agility, and durability were put to use in the logging industry. Modern machinery and transport slowly became more efficient and cost-effective than the elephant, gradually, the elephants were replaced by tractors, bulldozers, and all-terrain vehicles.
It’s a little surprising, even disconcerting to know that the treatment and welfare of Thailand’s domestic elephants are governed by the Draught Animals Act, giving them the same status as buffalo and oxen. The 1989 ban on logging had a huge impact on Thailand’s domestic elephant population. Virtually overnight, the majority of elephants and their mahouts employed in the logging industry became unemployed.
Life On The Streets
Some mahouts and their elephants turned to the illegal logging trade. For some, life on the streets in search of tourist dollars was the answer. The mahouts would find a piece of land and let their elephants forage during the day, by night they would seek out tourists and sell them bananas and sugar cane, which the tourists then feed to the elephants.
Big city streets are no place for an elephant, paved roads are not kind to their feet, smog and traffic fumes are detrimental to their health
the diet they receive is insufficient and lacking, they are hazardous to traffic, and traffic is hazardous to them, many are killed or injured in collisions with traffic.
Thailand Street Elephant Facts
- Juvenile elephants are often used on the streets of Bangkok and other Thai tourist destinations because they are more appealing, require less food, less room to forage, and they are more profitable.
- Some “street elephants” are bought by owners who simply hire them out on a monthly basis.
- Thailand’s street elephants often have multiple owners who share the work and the profit, often resulting in an overworked elephant.
- During the day many are “stored” on unsuitable land, often tethered, and without sufficient food and water.
- Bangkok City placed a ban on mahouts walking the city with their elephants.
- Restaurants are seen as the most profitable stopping points for street elephants.
Thailand’s Elephant Tourism Industry
Thailand’s booming tourist industry has marketed the elephant very efficiently, and there is a huge demand for elephant trekking and elephant shows.
Elephant Trekking
The most popular form of “elephant tourism” in Thailand is elephant trekking. Commercial elephant trekking centers have flourished in Thailand’s tourist resorts. Elephant trekking remains controversial. Animal welfare organizations argue that some elephants are overworked or poorly treated, while responsible sanctuaries and trekking operators maintain that properly managed elephants receive appropriate care.
Alternatives to elephant trekking are now becoming quite popular in Northern Thailand, they are being highly recommended and highly publicized. These alternatives include elephant rescue and conservation centers, and places like Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya where you can interact with elephants without riding them.
Thailand’s Elephant Shows
The Asian Elephant is a very versatile and intelligent creature, this intelligence, versatility, and even its amazing agility can be seen at “elephant shows” such as the one at Nong Nooch Gardens in Pattaya. Elephants can be seen performing incredible acts of agility such as riding tricycles or balancing on their two front and legs, they can use their trunk to throw a basketball with incredible accuracy. However, welfare concerns have made them a somewhat controversial spectacle.
While the fate of Thailand’s wild elephant herds is at the mercy of mankind, bureaucracy, and government influence, the versatility of the Asian Elephant has seen its domestic role change with circumstance and demand. As the plight of Thailand’s elephants attracts more media coverage there might once again be a change of circumstance, and hopefully, for the elephant, it will be a better circumstance.