1. Article by Ishita Sukhija
Elephants are kind animals who capture our thoughts and hearts. African and Asian
elephants are the two types of elephants that exist today. Savannah elephants and
forest elephants, according to certain genetic analyses, are two distinct species that
make up the African elephant.
“I am born to trumpet about my glory and intelligence. Being a ride for tourists has never been my preference”
A growing number of travellers are drawn to wildlife, such as African elephants,
and the money made from tourism may help to protect the creatures and their
natural habitats. A recent study suggests that elephants left to their own devices
may experience stress as a result of wildlife tourism.
You would undoubtedly be upset if someone dropped by your house uninvited and
sat down in front of you while you were relaxing. Elephants are the same way.
According to recent study, safaris may be detrimental to the health and welfare of
African elephants. The tendency to approach wild creatures up close rather than
observe them from a safe distance is stressing them out. When people are nearby,
the animals are more inclined to attack other herd members.
According to a research in the Journal of Zoology, elephants are more likely to act
aggressively toward other elephants when there are safari vehicles around. The
elephants also chose to leave feeding areas when the vehicles arrived, even though
they were settled. They also displayed more aggression toward people and vehicles when under “tourist pressure.”
Tourists may put riding an elephant on their bucket lists of royal experiences, but
the seemingly innocent activity hides a very dark fact that the elephant owners and
their riders will keep hidden from the tourists. The elephant must be kept in
constant agony and terror if it is to be trained to perform amusement rides for
tourists, tricks in circuses, at weddings or other public events, or to march in
processions.
Additionally, tourists should avoid riding elephants. Since they are wild animals,
elephants are particularly prone to giving in to unexpected trigger emotions like
fear, stress, and rage despite years of being trained to break their spirits. The lives
of visitors and onlookers as well as the people riding the elephants are frequently
in danger as a result of the elephants’ frequent attempts to flee their terrible lives.
Travelers visit India to experience the culture and take in the sights. They will
always make the appropriate decision if they are aware of the facts. The practise of
encouraging tourists to ride elephants promotes animal abuse and unnatural animal exploitation. Visitors to India would like to support conservation initiatives that save the country's wild elephant population.
Today, as the physical environment around us changes quickly, it is crucial to
pause, consider, and reimagine our relationship with elephants. Elephant
conservation and wellbeing in India gives us a critical lens through which to build
comprehensive policies that benefit both people and animals. The survival of
India’s biodiversity and legacy is correlated with the survival of elephants!
“ Wildlife Conservation should be the conversation”
2. Article by Hrudya Prasanth
Wildlife tourism is a rapidly growing industry, especially in Asia. Global wildlife tourism receipts will be estimated to exceed US$200 billion by 2020. Armed with this knowledge, many businesses have now turned their attention to creating new experiences for tourists and marketing them as eco-friendly alternatives to standard tourism activities that tend to harm the environment, such as riding on Elephants. But is wildlife tourism beneficial for Elephants? On one hand, it can be argued that it helps fund conservation efforts and support local communities. On the other hand, there are concerns about its ability to impact animal behaviour in a negative way and its potential to attract poachers. So does the good outweigh the bad, or vice versa?
On the bright side, Wildlife tourism helps fund conservation efforts by protecting threatened species by providing revenue to fund the protection of habitats. It helps protect endangered species by providing money to fund research and anti-poaching efforts. It provides livelihood opportunities for the local communities who otherwise may not be able to find regular employment. It is used to increase the economic value of local wildlife by attracting tourists and generating revenue. Thereby improving the local communities' education and health services.
Now let’s take a look at the cons. The behaviour of elephants is affected when they are encouraged to interact with humans in ways they wouldn’t, naturally or they may be trained to do so by being rewarded so that they form new habits. Animal handlers use behavioral- modifying drugs to control the elephant’s behaviour and keep them safe. This can lead to harmful side effects that are not disclosed to tourists. Elephants are overfed by humans as part of their tourism experience, leading to them becoming overweight and damaging their health.
Poachers are drawn to specific areas when demand for a certain animal increase. Demand for Elephant tusks has increased significantly in recent years due to their use in traditional medicines and decorations. Elephants are considered to be critically endangered due to the increase in poachers seeking their tusks. Tourism is the cause of this demand because it encourages people to buy Elephant products and experience encounters.
When the world’s largest living land animal, the Asian elephant, is also one of its most endangered, what kind of symbols do we need to help protect them? We must reboot the whole system in order to end this crisis, and we must acknowledge that elephant poaching is its own market system – we must stop the killing, the trafficking and its demand by educating those who purchase it.
"The best way to ensure that you’re protecting wildlife when you choose this kind of holiday is to do your research before you go. This will help you understand what you can do to protect the animals when you’re in their environment."
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