Pai Lin is a 71-year-old elephant and lives in Thailand. In February, the Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT) shared his photo on his website. Pai Lin’s snapshot and story caused a stir on social media and were widely shared.
The elephant’s back is completely collapsed: its spine has been displaced by 25 years of carrying tourists on its back, sometimes up to six at a time, WFFT specifies on its site.
Sunken and sunken spine
The NGO explains that it shared this photo to draw attention to the mistreatment of elephants in the many countries where they are considered tourist attractions.
In particular, he posted two comparison photos: one of Pai Lin and the other of an untapped elephant.
“You can see how Pai Lin’s spine, which should naturally be rounded and raised, is hollowed and sagging due to the heavy weight of her previous work,” it read.
Elephants are not made to be ridden or to carry heavy loads. “Your spine extends upward,” explains WFFT. “The constant pressure placed on your spine by tourists can cause permanent physical damage, as can be seen with Pai Lin.”
In addition, to be docile, these animals often suffer very harsh treatment, chained or tortured.
bad treatments
According to a World Animal Protection report published in 2017, there is almost no animal rights regulation in many Asian countries and three-quarters of elephants live in poor conditions. When not roughed up for tourism, they are regularly used in forestry operations.
Since 2006, Pai Lin has lived in an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. “She was abandoned by her former owner, who felt that she was too slow, that she was still in pain and that she could no longer work well,” Edwin Wiek, director of the association, told CNN.
This introverted “old lady” likes to have her own space. “She’s very introverted and she doesn’t really enjoy the company of other elephants, but she does like attention from people,” says Edwin Wiek. “She’s grumpy when it comes to food, but she’s a very nice elephant,” he concludes.
Source: BFM TV
