Horrible elephant abuse by humans for profit must be stopped! (WARNING: Disturbing photo)

[ProfessionalLeftist]

BELOW: A baby elephant braces for a hit during a training session in a Karen village in Burma. The training session is coined the 'crush' as its goal is to break the elephant's spirit. Wild elephants are typically tied up and beaten for 3 days straight and left to starve. Burmese Karen mahouts near the Thai border operate a clandestine and illegal trade network smuggling elephants into Thailand to be sold to mahouts for the Thai tourism industry. Officials estimate that 1 Burmese elephant is smuggled into Thailand every week.




Q&A with photojournalist Brent Lewin, who won a Science/Natural History Award of Excellence for this image at the Pictures of the Year competition:

Q: How common is this practice?
A: It's a very traditional technique and quite common but it can vary in terms of the level of violence. It's not all black and white either, some progressive camps use positive reinforcement instead of beatings. There was a time when foreigners could watch elephant training in Thailand but some negative images came out and it's almost impossible as a foreigner to see this now.
Q: Are there organizations in the region working to prevent this treatment of elephants?
A:There are some good organizations working to protect elephants in Thailand. Elephant Nature Park and Elephant Conservation Network are doing really good work.
Q: How can tourists visiting Thailand either be part of the problem or part of the solution?
A: Though they are rare, supporting progressive elephant tourism companies that have an interest in conservation is a good place to start. Try to avoid supporting tourism that uses elephants to perform circus tricks. These outfits almost always chain their elephants up all day separated from one another. If you see an elephant being abused speak out and tell the owner. I'm confident in the coming years elephant tourism will change in Thailand and offer an alternative model to the one in place now.
Q: What has been the response to this image?
A: Disbelief and horror.

Organizations mentioned that are working to protect elephants:

http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
http://www.ecn-thailand.org/

I don't know what can be done but I want people to SEE this and know it goes on - and be willing to do what they can to help stop it!

[Worried senior]

1. Horrible,

human beings are the worst in so many instances. I would want to do the same thing to the abuser.

Had heard years ago that the well known zoo in CA did the same thing, don't know if it was true but never heard a denial.

Like animals a whole lot better than people.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

2. You and me both

I want to beat the shit out of that a$$hole holding the stick, untie the poor baby and haul it off to a sanctuary - or back to it's Mamma.

[Omaha Steve]

3. K&R!