File photo: Elephants in Amber Fort Jaipur.
(Bhagirath Basnet/TOI, BCCL)
For Indians, it is pretty common to see elephants adorned with colourful paints and garlands or posing friendly gestures for visitors! We often see them near religious places, tourist attractions or roaming the streets. But this show of grandeur is precisely that—a show for us and our children, most of whom absolutely adore these gentle giants. The reality behind this show is quite contrasting to the seemingly friendly picture it portrays, as these elephants are often used as mere tools to increase tourism.
Elephant tourism continues to be quite popular in India and other South Asian countries such as Thailand and Sri Lanka. According to estimates, in India alone, 3,000-4,000 captive elephants—more than 10% of the elephant population in the country—continue to suffer to date. And if you think this is an…
