We all want to have incredible experiences when we travel. There is nothing wrong with wanting to see a mesmerizing creature like the elephant, experiencing feeding them from your own hand, and having a picture that will always bring you back to that moment and make you feel all fuzzy and warm inside.
YES!
BUT...
ALSO,
It is our responsibility to be conscious and responsible travelers with the choices we make. Don't just think about yourself and the picture you want to show off to the world. Think about these animals too. How do they live? How are they being treated? Are they being exploited for tourists? Do they look healthy or tired and abused? Who is benefiting from your visit and the fee that you're paying? How are you helping the animal?
Do some research when you visit Thailand and other South East Asian countries and please make sure that you don't support companies that mistreat these beautiful animals (and others). For example, the Elephant Conservation Center in Thailand (near Chiang Mai)is the only place in the country where elephants are rescued and taken really good care of. In this conservation center there is also an elephant hospital and even a nursery!
This adorable little elephant I'm feeding is only 2 years old. He lives like a king and will do so without any worries of being malnourished and mistreated. Look! I think he's smiling ;)
During my travels, I have seen too many instances of abused, sick-looking, helpless elephants tied to trees, destined to walk tourists day after day, after retiring from a long brutal career of logging... Let us remember that we all have our place and purpose on this planet and these animals' mission is certainly not to please us. YES to conscious choices!