Father killed by elephant

Sad story of a Scottish father and daughter being thrown from an elephant in Thailand, unfortunately the father was killed. His daughter is in hospital but OK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-35466237

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Reply 1

BaconandSauce

I feel more sympathy for the Elephant.

I do wish people would stop using these creatures in this way they are not as portrayed by Disney and need to be treated with respect

'was clearly having some trouble controlling the elephant and they have a sort of iron spike that they use - it looks rather brutal - but they use it to strike the elephant's head, not usually very hard, but at least to let it know what to do.'

Reply 2

Haydo

Original post by BaconandSauce

I feel more sympathy for the Elephant.'

I agree. Can see the Elephant being put down after this...

Reply 3

DiddyDec01

An unfortunate accident doing what can only be described as risky.

Posted from TSR Mobile

Reply 4

sw651

Original post by Haydo

I agree. Can see the Elephant being put down after this...

Doubt it. Thailand is full of Buddhists who would disagree with that.

Reply 5

BaconandSauce

Original post by Haydo

I agree. Can see the Elephant being put down after this...

Hopefully it won't happen as this isn't his fault.

but can't see people having much use for a killer.

Reply 6

Farm_Ecology

Obviously sad that the father died, but what do people expect?

It reminds me of Drapetomania.

Reply 7

abruiseonthesky

Original post by sw651

Doubt it. Thailand is full of Buddhists who would disagree with that.

Yet they don't care about the abuse.

Reply 8

abruiseonthesky

Sad story, but you take your chances. The whole industry with elephant rides needs to be shut down. It's disgusting.

Reply 9

sw651

Original post by abruiseonthesky

Yet they don't care about the abuse.

Cruel irony

Reply 10

abruiseonthesky

Original post by sw651

Cruel irony

More massive hypocrisy

Reply 11

Speckle

Original post by abruiseonthesky

Sad story, but you take your chances. The whole industry with elephant rides needs to be shut down. It's disgusting.

Is it any different to horses?

Reply 12

Captain Jack

Interesting points of view. I would worry for all of the "thousands" of elephants if the tourist rides now stopped...

I think it's like most things. If run properly, there is no reason why the elephants can't have happy lives and carry tourists around. Unfortunately, at the moment I assume the reality is incredibly depressing.

Reply 13

abruiseonthesky

Original post by Speckle

Is it any different to horses?

Completely.

- horses are domestic (although still unpredictable); elephants are wild
- the treatment of horses is generally much better than the treatment of elephants during the breaking for riding
- the elephants are kept alone when they're herd animals, and usually in chains; horses aren't (generally) kept alone and have stables/fields
- elephants are beaten and it's legal; here obviously beating horses isn't
- it's easy to regulate animal owners here - if you suspect someone's mistreating an animal you report them. In countries such as Thailand there are no such systems in place because animal abuse is commonplace

The one thing I'd say is better about riding elephants than horses is you're probably not damaging the elephant's back by riding it, you are a horse.

Oh, and you have less far to fall off a horse :tongue:

plus you're likely to be wearing a hat, unless you're a complete moron.

(edited 8 years ago)

Reply 14

Captain Jack

Original post by abruiseonthesky

Would you endorse it if the treatment of the elephants was much better?

(I ask because I share the exact same concerns as you)

Reply 15

abruiseonthesky

Original post by Captain Jack

Would you endorse it if the treatment of the elephants was much better?

(I ask because I share the exact same concerns as you)

Probably not. Mostly because I can't see people keeping herds of elephants so the elephant would still be alone, and also because there's a complete difference between horses and elephants. Elephants aren't domestic animals. Horses are. I don't even like zoos that much because of their caging in of wild animals. The best thing about them is the conservation work they do.

Reply 16

Captain Jack

Original post by abruiseonthesky

Good point - I guess the idea of them being in mini herds in a little wilderness in between rides it a dream that will never be a reality :frown:

Reply 17

dav55

That's the risk I guess. On his head be it etc.

Reply 18

abruiseonthesky

Original post by Captain Jack

Good point - I guess the idea of them being in mini herds in a little wilderness in between rides it a dream that will never be a reality :frown:

Yeah it'd just never happen

Reply 19

Farm_Ecology

Original post by Speckle

Is it any different to horses?

I would say that it is different, but horse racing and riding should be banned.

Original post by Captain Jack

I think it's like most things. If run properly, there is no reason why the elephants can't have happy lives and carry tourists around. Unfortunately, at the moment I assume the reality is incredibly depressing.

I disagree. To get the elephants to allow the riding they have to be trained, part of even the kindest methods is controlling the animals actions through controlling their food supply.