By Jennifer Yeap
Everyone loves elephants. Who doesn’t? These gentle giants are loving and compassionate animals adored by all. For the public, a visit to the zoo would not be complete without getting a glimpse of elephants and an opportunity to come into contact with one. However, most Malaysians do not know the brutal truth about how elephants are managed in captivity and the abuse they endure.
What zoos in Malaysia don’t want you to know about is the abusive treatment of elephants in order to force them to be unquestionably submissive to their handlers.
All captive elephants are subjected to at least some form of physical and mental torture, and the most tenacious elephants are put through a nightmarish ‘spirit-breaking’ process known as ‘phajaan’.
During ‘phajaan’ (which can last for weeks), a baby elephant which has been forcibly separated from its mother is shackled, severely beaten, and gets little water or food. Once ‘trainers’ are satisfied that the elephant has been psychologically shattered and will be submissive to keepers/handlers, only then will this process stop. Bullhooks are also commonly used to make elephants obey their handler’s commands.
In 2011, Johor Zoo was exposed for the abuse of a baby elephant named Paloh. Undercover photos of Paloh, chained day and night, unable to walk, not provided drinking water or food, went viral, causing worldwide outrage. Investigations revealed that the zoo had been ‘training’ Paloh to make her available for children’s rides.
Bear in mind though, once an elephant is psychologically broken, the abuse does not necessarily stop. They do have to be ‘reminded’ by their handlers to be submissive all the time.
In 2013, activists exposed an elephant being hit by a handler at the A’Famosa Animal World Safari Park in Malacca after its show.
Why do elephants have to be tortured and beaten into submission? It is because they are one of the smartest animals in the world, able to make their own decisions, portray emotions– such as empathy, grief, altruism, self-awareness–, and show other traits of intelligence. Torturing and abusing an elephant will make it safer for zookeepers to manage and handle, and make the elephant presentable to the public.
One other fact Malaysians must know is that only an elephant which has been severely abused can be used for elephant rides and animal shows and perform other demeaning tricks.
In the wild, elephants live in herds, led by a matriarch, and are estimated to travel 10-20km a day. In captivity, they are not only abused but confined to tiny spaces and often deprived of contact with other elephants. As a result, captive elephants can display head-bobbing and swaying for hours at a time every day. These are well-known coping mechanisms captive elephants employ when under stress.
Elephants do not belong in captivity nor in the tourism industry. These complex animals suffer in zoos. So what is the solution to end elephants suffering in captivity?
Retire them to a sanctuary and stop destroying elephant habitats. As long as there is demand from the public to see animals in captivity, to ride them and witness elephant shows, they will continue to suffer. Our government can end the suffering by providing a sanctuary, too. But will they do it?
Zoos are popular among parents, but what they do not realise is that they are teaching children it is ‘OK’ for wild animals to be imprisoned. Wild animals belong in the wild.
You, the reader, can start to make a difference today by deciding to boycott zoos offering elephant rides and shows like the A’Famosa Animal World Safari Park.
But will you?
Jennifer Yeap represents the Malaysian Friends of the Animals.
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