The first industry that came to a halt because of coronavirus lockdown across the globe was that of tourism.?
Much of tourism runs on using animals as main. Now that there are no tourists with camera flocking to these sites, it seems animals are finally getting a chance to be free. There's no denying this situation has brought them?some much needed relief.?
On March 25, dozens of elephants in Thailand were set free and the chairs on their backs removed. The jumbos at the Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand were freed of the wooden chairs; they had been supporting those chairs on their backs for 44 years.?
Camp director Anchalee Kalampichit said that there will be a change in business now and the place will operate as a place for visitors to observe the animals. She reportedly said that all 78 elephants will never have to wear the strap on chairs again.??
"Since we entered the business in 1976, riding on the elephants has always been the favourite activity of tourists. But because the coronavirus has spread there have been fewer tourists and eventually the government ordered us to close so we have removed the chairs to liberate the elephants. We are not planning to put the seat supports back on the elephants, even if we can operate again. We want to change the style of the place and find more natural ways that the public can enjoy the elephants,¡± Yahoo News quoted her as saying.?
The enclosure has to bear the cost of keeping of 78 elephants and the staff without the support of tourists and they intend to keep doing it in whatever way possible.?