Terrible! Baby Elephant Allegedly Forced To Entertain Partying Tourists At Thailand Hotel

It's a known fact that there's a huge market for illegal elephant trade in Thailand and nearby areas.

The demand is mostly fueled by the influx of tourists and for this purpose, baby elephants are smuggled away from their mothers and are trained to act as party props for people.

In India, elephants blessing people at the threshold of temples is a very common sight. While people look at them in awe, what most forget is the fact they were forced away from their habitat for the sole purpose of our entertainment.

Source/Twitter/MetroUK

The same is the case with elephants in Thailand, who are ill-treated, ill-fed and forced to live outside their habitat all for the purpose of insensitive humans who have pushed it to the brink of endangerment.

More recently, a hotel in Thailand is facing flak for engaging a baby elephant to entertain guests at a private pool party.

Source/Telegraph/Twitter

The elephant¡¯s body is covered by a white costume as guests go up and pet its head during the pool party. The photo was taken at M?venpick Bangtao Beach in Phuket, which shared the photo on its Facebook page.

Soon after the pictures went viral, animal enthusiasts were left fuming and demanded an immediate apology from the hotel for engaging in such senseless activity.

Metro UK quoted Activist Amy Jones, from Moving Animals, as saying, "Elephants are sensitive, intelligent animals, not products to be used as a ridiculous party prop."

¡®M?venpick Resort Bangtao Beach should not be promoting and supporting such cruelty, and this stunt will undoubtedly be bad for business as more and more tourists turn away from activities which exploit elephants.¡¯ She added: ¡®No elephant should have to suffer from this kind of abuse, and Phuket must take steps to make sure that these beautiful animals are protected.'

Source/Twitter/MetroUK

A spokesperson for the Accor group told Metro.co.uk: "This was an isolated incident that occurred when a guest brought an elephant onto the property as part of a private event."

"Our hotels do not use animals for entertainment and this incident has allowed us the opportunity to reinforce to all our network the importance of ensuring the safety and welfare of animals who might enter their grounds."

"We sincerely apologise for this incident and are committed to doing better in the future to raise awareness of the importance of treating all creatures in an ethical way," the spokesperson added.

In a similar incident, another hotel in Thailand was slammed for hiring a baby elephant to entertain inebriated tourists at a resort. According to the Telegraph, Wildlife Friends Foundation of Thailand (WFFT) shared the shocking images on social media provoking a shower of angry response.

People actually were seen riding these baby elephants and that's what stirred massive outrage. The spines of elephants are extremely delicate and not designed to carry heavy loads, more so for young elephants.