A video of an elephant massaging a woman’s back is presently going viral on social media. The video shows the lady lying on a low bed as the elephant utilizes its trunk and legs to apply stress on her back. While the footage is not new – it has been undertaking the rounds of the Internet for at least two years now – it is going viral once again following resurfacing on Twitter, after more shining a spotlight on this problematic practice.
According to The Dodo, utilizing educated elephants to massage vacationers has extended been promoted as a enjoyable activity in Thailand. And even though the notion of obtaining a jumbo press down on your back could appear terrifying to some, these elephants have been educated from an early age, and various guests appear upon elephant massages as a special and harmless activity.
So why is it problematic?
According to the World Animal Protection, an animal welfare organisation, elephants utilized for this sort of entertainment have to undergo a cruel instruction course of action. Baby elephants are separated from their mothers at a pretty young age and subjected to brutal ‘training’ processes created to make them submissive to humans.
This elephant massage video, which has been viewed almost 10,000 occasions on Twitter, has also racked up various important reactions.
“This elephant was obviously trained to pamper to amuse humans. Why wasn’t it freed?” wrote a single Twitter user.
“I hate this kind of stuff. Elephants are not our servants. This is gross,” mentioned one more.
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Nearly all elephants utilized for tourist entertainment activities like rides and circuses have been educated to make them obedient. Training can involve starving the animals, locking them in tiny cages or inflicting discomfort with bullhooks.