Guidlelines for Elephant Interaction

At Contes Asia Travel we understand that the issue of using elephants for tourism-related purposes is a controversial topic. As such we are reviewing our position and trying to ensure that we are following ‘best practices’ and keeping up with new developments.

Elephants should not be taken from the wild for use in captive environments.

All elephant experience providers should have animal specialists and veterinarians doing regular health checks.

Animals should have access to adequate drinking water.

Elephants should be fed appropriate food, especially when this encourages natural feeding behavior.

Enclosures used to house animals should be clean, hygienic and well maintained.

Elephant experience providers should keep the chaining of elephants to a minimum, i.e. only a few hours per day.

Positive enforcement training methods should be employed and use of the elephant’s ankus (bull-hook) should be kept to a minimum.

Elephants, especially young ones that are introduced to camps, should never go through cruel training rituals.

Elephants should not be trained to perform unnatural actions, for example, tightrope walks.

Where there is contact between tourists and elephants, it should only take place under supervised conditions.