There is a famous zoo in Thailand called Khao Kheow Open Zoo, located in Chonburi Province. What makes this zoo famous is its extensive animal performances. Yes, the main marketing focus of this zoo is animal performances. Conservation, education, and ecology are not the main priorities here. This zoo makes it clear that they want you to buy a ticket to watch animal performances.
The standard feeding shows include feeding giraffes, feeding lemurs, feeding fawns, feeding rhinoceroses, and the highlight is the “elephant diving” show.
The zoo has a deep pool with two or three floors, equipped with transparent glass, allowing visitors to see the animals in the pool. The elephant trainers will chase the elephants into the water, forcing them to start the diving performance.
It’s true that elephants enjoy playing in the water occasionally, but most of the time, their heads remain above the water, using their trunks to spray water and clean their bodies.
From the official promotional videos, it can be seen that the zoo emphasizes spectacle and visuals. The elephant trainers continuously exert pressure and force the elephants to submerge their heads into the water.
The elephant trainers (Or animal trainers?) don’t guide or encourage the elephants but instead ride or stand on their heads, exerting pressure, stomping, and pulling their ears to make the elephants lower their heads into the water. Since the water is deep, the elephants’ heads are easily submerged. The repetitive actions amaze the on-site visitors, who find elephant diving truly entertaining and fascinating!
It’s not just entertaining; it’s absurd. It completely subverts our perception of zoos. I thought zoos existed for animal conservation, education, and advocacy?!
It’s true that elephants enjoy playing in the water, but these actions clearly violate their will and natural instincts. When animals are trained to become accustomed to labor, the audience is less likely to perceive their suffering. If we were talking about a kindergarten, even if children enjoy playing in the water, teachers cannot forcefully submerge their heads in water. Such an act would undoubtedly cause public outrage. Even if the children say it’s okay, it is still not permissible.
The development of animal welfare awareness varies in each country. Many organizations in Taiwan have been promoting animal welfare advocacy and education for 30 years. We are fortunate that we don’t face such situations in our country.
Apart from Japan, Thailand is one of the most popular tourist destinations for Taiwanese people. The local culture often exploits elephants for various industries. The appeal to not ride elephants has become a cliché. Instead, it should be said that anything related to elephants, whether it’s touching and interacting with them, riding them, or watching performances, anything that requires you to pay should be rejected. There is usually nothing good behind it.
