Taweechai Elephant Camp — Attraction in Kanchanaburi Province

If you’ve ever woken up one morning on the holiday of a lifetime and thought, “I would love to witness the blatant exhibit of animal cruelty while handing over my hard earned money to people with the moral compass of a broken shopping trolly” have I found the place for you

Let’s start with the elephants. These magnificent, intelligent creatures should be roaming freely in the wild, enjoying their lives in nature. Instead, this hell hole decided to teach them a thing or two… they are chained up so tightly they can barely move, walking in circles in a heartbreaking display of stress. One of them was tied so tightly, it couldn’t take one normal step without dislocating its own shoulder. If you wanted to see how many of natures gracious giants you can squeeze into a tiny over crowded area, you are in the right place.

But don’t panic, this place has found a way to make their suffering entertaining. For the low price of 250 Bhat and your dignity, you can watch these magnificent animals be forced to perform ridiculous tricks, “dancing” awkwardly to blaring music and playing darts like they are participating at some twisted, elephant-themed horror show. It’s like a circus, but instead of fun, you get a deep, existential sadness that lingers along with their pained cries long long after you leave.

The whole camp is a disgrace. The enclosures are tiny and the entire atmosphere stinks of exploitation. If it cant get any worse, when one of these poor animals is lucky enough to fall from its mortal coil, they leave its skeleton (minus tusks because they are obviously worth some money) on display to remind the rest of them that even the sweet release of death wont be enough to escape this never ending torture chamber.

As if it cant get any worse, you’ll witness the trainers (a term I use extremely loosely) carrying sharp metal hooks used to poke, prod, and generally make the elephants’ lives more of a living nightmare. Nothing says “we love and respect our animals” like stabbing them when they don’t hold onto one and others tails and run in a circle to music that would be more suited to an acid fuelled rave.

In summary, Taweechai Elephant Camp is what happens when greed meets complete disregard for animal welfare. It is more akin to a horror show than a tourist destination. If you have even the smallest ounce of compassion, avoid this place like the plague. The only thing you will leave with is a sick feeling in your stomach and a desperate urge to shower off the second hand cruelty. Do yourself, and the elephants a favour stay away, stay well away. Especially when the country is littered with elephant sanctuaries that treat these kind, sentient beings with the respect they deserve

The only person that has benefited from my short visit here is my solicitor who, on my departure has had to change my Will to leave what I have left of my ruined life to an actual elephant sanctuary in Thailand to try and shift the awful balance of Karma in my life.

This is undoubtedly the saddest place I have ever been to in my life… and I’ve been to Luton for a...

Everyone wants to ride elephants in Thailand. Including me. That was until I spent the day at an elephant "sanctuary" in River Kwai and learned the disturbing truth about this popular activity.

Just imagine how incredible it would be to sit atop a massive 9 foot tall, 4 ton beast while lumbering your way through deep rivers and pristine jungle.

This is an experience many dream about when planning a visit to Thailand.

However there’s a dark side to elephant tourism that many people just don’t seem to be aware of...

From what I saw, baby elephants were forced to do a show, which was painful to watch and it must be more painful for the performing elephants. They were made to perform very unnatural tricks and balancing acts. I saw how hard the mahouts were gripping and pinching the elephants sensitive ears to guide them.

Also, when the elephants were ridden, the mahouts carried a pole with a claw were they press the elephants neck down so they moved quickly, leaving them bruised.

After the tour was over we had the chance to play with a baby elephant. While everyone was playing with it I saw one of the mahouts hit an elephant with the claw stick leaving a really disturbing wound over the eye and leaving it to bleed out. As soon as my friend and I saw it, we yelled at him from a distance but he just ignored us and kept walking. We quickly spoke to our tour guide and a worker but they said it was normal. We were really dissapointed and furious with this experience and how they mistreated this beautiful creatures.

Whether you ride elephants in Thailand or not is your choice. I try my best not to judge others because I’m acutely aware that we all have different moral codes & standards. Most people who participate in elephant tourism in Thailand are completely unaware of how they are treated. I know many friends who have ridden elephants.

It’s easy to understand why people do it. I almost rode them myself.

I just wanted to share what I’ve learned after my own elephant experience in Thailand, to help you make a more informed decision...

We were here as one stop in a guided tour. When booking the tour in our hostel, my partner and I had stated explicitly that we didn't want to go to a place of elephant riding/trecking but to a sanctuary instead (where supposedly they offer a no riding bathing adventure with elephants). To our surprise we ended up here, at this place. It was all very rushed and confusing to me and when our guide told us to climb on the elephant's back (directly on skin), I was taken by surprise and just did as I was told, but the second I sat down I realised that this was so, so wrong and I actually wanted to get off. But the elephant was already moving, that was a bit scary and I had to focus in order not to fall off. So my partner and I went along with it and did as we were told.

They let the elephants do tricks, even throwing people into the water with their trunks. It's very entertaining for tourists but the elephants are totally degraded to an extravagant form of entertainment. 'Our' elephant was so obedient and did exactly as she was told by the guide... From what I know, there are multiple ways of teaching animals desired behaviour and tricks, ranging from ways that seem ok for some animals such as positive reinforcement (e. g. give treats for desired behaviour) to positive punishment (apply unpleasant stimulus to discourage undesired behaviour). The elephants at this place didn't seem happy at all and I think teaching methods are probably chosen for efficiency and not maximum animal welfare. I regret having participated in this and I wish I had had the present of mind to just say: 'No, I don't want to do that'.

Elephants are highly sensitive creatures and, in my opinion, Taweechai Camp is not a good place for them. I feel ashamed of myself for taking part in this and I would advise anybody who genuinely cares for elephants not to support this form of...