Elephants trumpet animal rights
View(s):Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, in the wake of global travel companies not endorsing elephant rides, is studying this issue as the country is a destination that clearly markets its elephants to attract visitors.
International travel companies like Australia’s Intrepid Travel Group have clearly stated that they do not endorse elephant rides but on the other hand have agreed to take their travellers to other locations like the elephant orphanage and the Udawalawe National Park, a transit home for these large animals.
A group called the World Animal Protection (WAP) group said in a global statement that over 100 travel companies had agreed not to market locations that were involved in the use of torture on animals for taming them for commercial gain like elephant rides and shows for entertainment.
The Intrepid group has stated on its official website that since this year it had stopped offering elephant rides on any of their trips to destinations but would “limit the number of places where elephant welfare is clearly highly prioritised and the elephants are free to move without restraint for much of the day.”
However, a leading local travel company said that most of these tour operators who would not prefer to have elephant rides on their itineraries did not object to their tourists witnessing elephants paraded at the annual Kandy Perahera. The same applies to Intrepid which offers a visit to the Esala Perahera saying, “Expect to see bedazzled elephants, fire-eaters, processions of people and animated parades of drummers, dancers and torchbearers in this colourful festival”.
Sri Lanka Tourist Hotels Association (THASL) President Hiran Cooray told the Business Times that the elephant in Sri Lanka is part and parcel of the lives of the local people.
In this context, he pointed out that it had carried out a “yeoman service especially with regard to culture,” and noted that as long as the animal was treated well there was no problem in temples using them.
However, Mr. Cooray said that taking people on elephant rides was “arguable” and should not be promoted aggressively.
Jetwing, which he heads, doesn’t promote the elephant for use at weddings by its guests.
He pointed out that the THASL was currently discussing this issue and would seek more information from experts on the subject before arriving at a decision on how they should address this matter.
Other industry persons point out that it was interesting how countries in Asia and Africa in which these large animals were found were targeted as opposed to instances where bull-fighting, horse riding, camel rides in other countries were not spotlighted.
Middle Eastern travellers to Sri Lanka would prefer an excursion that includes an elephant ride while their European counterparts would not, industry sources said.