View: Shocked at the way elephants are treated

Sunday July 26, 2009

On July 19, a group of us visited the National Elephant Conservation Centre managed and operated by Perhilitan (Department of National Parks and Wildlife) at Kuala Gandah.

While we enjoyed having contact with the elephants and would like to commend the centre for limiting the number of visitors who are allowed to ride on and bathe with the elephants to reduce the stress that the elephants may experience, other things left us saddened and angered.

Bullhooks were used extensively by the handlers on the elephants, even when they were complying with the mahouts' instructions.

One of the members of our group approached a handler and asked him to stop using the bullhook.

For a while, he used the blunt handle of the bullhook to prod the elephant.

Later he used the hook on an elephant again, and sneered at us when we cautioned him not to do so.

One of the elephants we were riding, Abot, had an untreated wound on its head which appeared to have been inflicted by the bullhook, as the mahouts kept tapping the elephants on the head with the heel of the bullhooks.

Another baby elephant, Siput, who was merely having her meal, flinched when a staff member showed her his fist, an indication, perhaps, that fists have been used to cause pain before.

An agency that calls itself a wildlife conservation centre must eliminate cruel actions such as the use of bullhooks, sharp and dangerous implements and chains which are too short and which cause injury.

We urge the management of Perhilitan and the Pahang Tourism Board to look into the matter and treat it with the importance that it deserves.

We would not hesitate to advise our friends against visiting the centre in future if no action is taken to ensure the elephants are handled with respect and compassion.

FRIENDS OF THE ELEPHANTS,

Petaling Jaya.

This article was taken from: The Star Online: News: Opinion 26 July 2009