We had stayed as volunteers at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai where they look after rescued elephants. We all learnt a lot about the plight of the Asian elephant from our visit there. On our way back from the park to Chiang Mai we saw a baby elephant going to the market to beg on the streets. We met up with some friends that night for dinner and had an exciting idea to start a group to r
aise money and save elephants. So basically thats how KFE had begun and we do hope that it will succeed. Thailand had 100,000 elephants in 1980 but the numbers have decreased dramatically to just 2,600. We want to raise awareness about what these elephants still have to go through before being the object of our enjoyment, e.g. At an early age they are taken from their mothers, forced into a tiny confined area like a cage and are tied up in there for up to seven days without food or water. Any movement they make or any struggle is soon abruptly stopped and they are stabbed with bamboo sticks that have sharpened nails on the ends, as well with the hooks they use on elephants everywhere. They bleed a lot from the hooks sinking into their skin and ripping skin off. This cruelty is meant to break them in for working later on. While trekking, ropes rub against their skin until it is left raw and fleshy. Many elephants get very badly injured backs from the weight that is on their backs, like the benches used to carry tourists, and then are not able to trek any longer, leaving them to fend for themselves. Another terrible thing that is happening with asian elephants is street begging. The noise and action in the cities, where they are begging, makes the elephants frantic and stressed, rocking on their feet as a form of stress. They mostly don't get fed properly and are very poorly looked after, often victims of accidents on busy roads. It is said that in the Thai culture the elephant is a symbol of power and peace and that they are highly respected, appreciated and loved, but how has torturing them into doing what we want have anything to do with love, appreciation or respect?
