Phajaan – A Journey of Spiritual Transformation
Phajaan: A Journey of Spiritual Transformation: Tourism is a booming industry and it is not slowing down anytime soon. Millions of visitors each year venture to these shores of paradise to relax in the sun and sand and venture into the northern mountains for white temples and scenic hiking trails.
Elephants are the biggest attraction of Thailand tourism. However, it also has an unseen dark side that is hidden from most people’s sight.
The welfare of elephants in Thailand is dire and begins with the process of Phajaan. Elephant tourism relies on this process to break down the creature physically and mentally – and as tourists, we need to come together to stop this recreational exploitation.
Elephant rides in Thailand
You’ve probably seen a tourist, or company about “elephant rides in Thailand”, “elephant trekking in Thailand”, or some form of elephant circus in Southeast Asia (they exist all over the world) or heard less than It’s quite common.
But all these tricks, such as standing on one leg, drawing pictures, or even letting tourists climb on their backs are not a natural activity for these amazing creatures and are often done under the threat of severe punishment such as beating or pain. Accused them of misbehaving.
I will add my YouTube link at the bottom of this page if you would like to witness exactly what happens to an elephant during Phajaan.
In case it is not already clear, I would like to point out that this article is not pleasant. It contains some pretty horrifying mentions of what happens to elephants during the terrible Phajaan or soul-breaking process.
So if it’s not for you, fine. But it is important to know that our actions as tourists can have dire consequences for the animals involved.
Elephant Tourism, and The Process of Phajaan:
Elephant tourism, and the process of Phajaan, are not easy things to feed. But that’s why these giants need to understand the very dire consequences that come from using elephants only for recreation, among other industries, such as logging.
If you are reading this and have already participated in these activities, please, don’t feel bad.
This article on elephant welfare in Thailand and Phajaan is not intended to embarrass anyone or make you feel bad. This is for education and hopefully, it helps the welfare of elephants around the world.
You can teach future travelers how to travel and not negatively affect the lives of these beautiful animals.
The Process of Phajaan
Phajaan is the local term for the process of breaking the souls of elephants. This is not done easily or quickly and involves grabbing and torturing baby elephants. Many elephants even die by suicide by suffocating by standing on their trucks to avoid this dreadful process.
This is the reason why Mahut (elephant owner and trainer) stays with the elephant for the entire 7-day process. Yes, a whole week of torture.
The beginning of Phajaan is equally terrifying.
Elephant cubs are hunted and abducted by their parents. Most of the time, every adult around the child is killed. From here the elephant is taken to a remote place and tied.
Phajaan is the local term for the process of breaking the souls of elephants. This is not done easily or quickly and involves grabbing and torturing baby elephants. Many elephants even die by suicide by suffocating by standing on their trucks to avoid this dreadful process.
This is the reason why Mahout (elephant owner and trainer) stays with the elephant for the entire 7-day process. Yes, a whole week of torture. The beginning of Phajaan is equally terrifying.
Elephant cubs are hunted and abducted by their parents. Most of the time, every adult around the child is killed. From here the elephant is taken to a remote place and tied. Their ears are pinned.
As the days pass, the chains and ropes wear through the elephant’s skin, and motor oil infused with herbs is lathered on the wounds to prevent infection. This happens amid a sustained onslaught of flogging and physical abuse.
The mahout pulls the elephant around a tree by truck to teach him obedience, and if the elephant disobeys him, he is punished. More severe beating, or pricking with a metal hook or nail. That doesn’t mean you can’t spend time with these giants.
Just do it ethically, with a company that cares about the public and owners and educates how to treat these animals. I visited elephants in Chiang Mai and it was an amazing experience.
They were rescued from industries that treated them as disposable waste and were given a second chance at a sustainable life.
How are elephants trained to serve in tourism?
Basically, Phajaan plucks elephants so that they can be humbled and trained to serve in a profitable industry. Tourism and logging are the two main types of work for which elephants are trained. Without first breaking an elephant, it would be very difficult or even impossible to train them.
There is absolutely no attention being paid to the welfare of the animal. By kidnapping a baby elephant, and killing the children of the whole family, it is very easy for Mahout to claim ownership of this new elephant.
Once the elephant cub is plucked and its spirit crushed, it can be trained in what will be beneficial to the mahout – be it tourism, logging, etc.
The best way to combat unethical elephant tourism in Thailand is to make it unprofitable. We do this by educating as many travelers to Thailand as possible, and while things are slowly changing for elephant welfare in Thailand, that may not change too quickly!
Why are elephants important to Thailand’s tourism?
Unfortunately, elephants are valuable assets in the tourism industry of Thailand and across Asia. Elephant riding, circus, painting, and begging on the streets are common things for them.
Riding on the back of an elephant causes major problems in the spine. This damage cripples elephants over time. Sure, they are huge animals but their back is not able to support the weight. On top of some humans, the heavy metal seat can weigh hundreds of kilograms.
Put all that together and take it along a trekking trail, this is not a sustainable lifestyle for an elephant, nor any animal that survives today.
Another common practice for a trained elephant is to draw a picture. Have you ever seen a wild elephant in the woods with a paintbrush wrapped around its trunk, the tip of which is dipped in paint, and the trees and houses are drawn?
No, I don’t have either. It is not natural to be an elephant painter.
They also need to be helped to attract. While the elephant is painting, the mahout is on the elephant’s side, using a nail or pointed nail under the elephant’s ear to cause pain to the animal if it acts or disobeys.
The mahout uses this sharp tool to rotate the elephant’s head to make the picture. You’re not actually paying for the depiction of the elephant, it’s an extension of the mahout’s hand.
Why elephant welfare should be important to all tourists:
Circus’ is another common form of elephant entertaining people. Even standing on one leg is not a natural phenomenon for an elephant. They can weigh as much as 5 tons, which is quite heavy for afoot.
The condition of these circuses is not good. If these actors get injured or get sick, they are not cared for.
If they cannot earn Mahout money, they are disposable and are often left to die. Carrying giant logs over rough terrain can result in slips and falls. Broken legs are common. Once again, it is usually left to die rather than take care of health.
Elephants are severely beaten and their spirits crushed in order to keep them in the tourism industry in Thailand: The short answer is, don’t take any type of tour that offers rides, paintings, or elephant displays.
These animals are taken advantage of because of their strength and/or tourist novelty. Many of these elephants are captured in the wild, with a large number coming from Myanmar.
And with birth documents so easily forged, it’s easy to pass off captured elephants as legitimately owned. The best way to save these elephants is to make industries unprofitable.
READ MORE: The Painful Story Of Elephant Mary
