{"id":4021,"date":"2022-04-22T08:37:14","date_gmt":"2022-04-22T08:37:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/?p=4021"},"modified":"2022-04-22T08:39:25","modified_gmt":"2022-04-22T08:39:25","slug":"looking-from-a-distance-the-alternative-approach-to-elephant-experience-that-started-in-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/looking-from-a-distance-the-alternative-approach-to-elephant-experience-that-started-in-thailand\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking From A Distance &#8211; The Alternative Approach To Elephant Experience That Started In Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When\nit comes to an animal as majestic as the elephant that is in many occasions\nseen to interact with humans, carry them on their back or do their bidding,\npeople often get quite convinced that it is totally okay to interact, rather\ninterfere with these massive animals. As much as riding on an elephant back or\ntaking a shower from water oozing out of their trunks or even trying to wash\nthem seem interesting, in reality, these activities constrict the innate\nbehaviors of the animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For quite some years now, there has been significant uproar from people who care for animal wellbeing in respect to approaching elephants and training them to do activities to please tourists. Besides, none can ignore the alarming fact of rising number of elephant poaching for the elusive (and costing a fortune!) ivories as well as body organs even in strict security. There is no doubt that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/how-ban-on-ivory-sales-can-save-diminishing-elephant-species\/\">banning ivory sale<\/a> will aid in conserving the elephants but at the same time, it is a safer option for both the animals and the humans to keep distance from each other so as to not disturbing natural behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Kiss Me Fuck Me &#8211; Relaxation Time<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/kissmefuckme.net\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"844\" height=\"156\" src=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4038\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo.png 844w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo-300x55.png 300w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo-768x142.png 768w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo-271x50.png 271w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo-650x120.png 650w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/kissmefuckme_logo-50x9.png 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 844px) 100vw, 844px\" \/><\/a><figcaption><strong>Kiss Me Fuck Me<\/strong> &#8211; Adult Time 2022 Series<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/kissmefuckme.net\">Kiss Me Fuck Me<\/a><\/strong> is considered having the best of both worlds &#8211; the one that&#8217;s sensual and other that&#8217;s harsh. Watch couples engage in new way of having their time together. From passionate making out to animal instincts taking over. This is what this 2022 series of Adult Time is all about!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Elephant\nSanctuaries In Thailand <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-819x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4025\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1.jpg 819w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-40x50.jpg 40w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-650x813.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/DSC_1261-1-50x63.jpg 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Elephants\nbeing used for pleasure activities for the tourists and heavy-duty tasks are\nstill very popular in Thailand and it would be hard to find a sanctuary where\nthese animals are left in their desired habitat. The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.elephantvalleys.com\/\">Chiang Rai Elephant Sanctuary, Elephant Valley\nThailand<\/a> has strict rule on letting elephants be elephants in their desirable\nhabitat and teaching them to be elephants again by shedding off any trauma. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The\nfive principles that this sanctuary abides by are \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Giving freedom from thirst and hunger by\nproviding sufficient and ready access to potable water and healthy diet to keep\nthem healthy and vigorous.<\/li><li>Giving freedom from discomfort by offering them\nproper environment where they feel at home.<\/li><li>Giving freedom from any injury, pain or disease\nwith quick and thorough diagnosis, treating them of illness and injury and\nadopting proper handling techniques. <\/li><li>Giving them freedom of expressing their innate\nbehavior by providing sufficient space to roam about (40 acres of forest and\ngrassland habitat), company of other elephants and proper facilities to grow. <\/li><li>Giving them freedom from distress and fear of\ncruelty and dominance on the hands of human by ensuring sustainable conditions\nas well as rehab treatment where they can cope up with the mental trauma. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Elephant Valley Project <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4026\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-67x50.jpg 67w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-650x488.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a-50x38.jpg 50w, https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/awash-1a.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Operational\nfor over ten years in Cambodia, the Elephant Valley Project is a pioneering\nstep in Thailand where the approach is towards no riding, no washing and no\nbathing of the national animal. In this process, humans have to keep distance\nfrom the elephants so that they do not do through the \u201cPhajaan\u201d process where\nthese gentle and compassionate-minded animals are tortured with spearheads and\ntrained rigorously against their natural behavior to be submissive to the\ntourists so that they can ride them according to schedule. Not only does the\nPhajaan breaks an elephant\u2019s spirit but also sows a seed of fear from humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p>While being the largest sanctuary for captive elephants in Asia, Elephant Valley Project makes sure that the 1500 hectares of bamboo groves, grassland and forest in Elephant Valley Thailand is perfectly utilized by not more than 10 elephants so that they have ample space to explore. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>From half day to full day visits, overnight\nexperiences to volunteering programs, the sanctuary has many options to explore\nthe world of elephants and that too with a personal guide who can narrate you\nthe daily routine of the animals. <\/li><li>After health and safety briefing, where tourists\nare instructed to keep at least 25 meters of distance from the animals,\ntourists can see how the former riding and logging elephants are now roaming\nfreely in the grassy paddocks and relaxes wherever they please.<\/li><li>Elephant castles are built where you can rest and\nthese are the only sections where tourists might have the experience of being\nup close with the animals, only if the elephants decide to approach you.&nbsp; <\/li><li>Watch the elephants munch grass with all the time\nin the world, watch them roll over in mud without any direction from mahouts or\nfrolicking people wanting to get photographed. Hear them trumpet in content as\nthey dip into the pond without anyone scrubbing them and mahouts watching from\ndistance. Watch them be inquisitive when you are in volunteering task, play at\nthe washing area or kick a tyre. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Elephants\nare meant to live in the grasslands or jungles and not interact with humans\nunless they want to. They need to be left in their wild habitat to help them\ngrow properly, arrange food in their natural way, take mud bath or splash water\non their bodies, nurture their young ones, mate with another elephant and roam\nin herds \u2013only to be watched in awe by humans, from distance. The Elephant\nValley in Thailand knows the importance of supporting the natural growth of\nelephants and this alternative approach of watching elephants in their natural\nhabitat is really commendable. One can only hope that more and more\norganizations address this issue and make the world a healthy place for these\ngiants.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When it comes to an animal as majestic as the elephant that is in many occasions seen to interact with humans, carry them on their back or do their bidding, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/looking-from-a-distance-the-alternative-approach-to-elephant-experience-that-started-in-thailand\/\" class=\"more-link style2-button\">Read More<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4023,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[46,51,1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4021"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4039,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4021\/revisions\/4039"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.un-habitat.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}