# Uncertain Future for Elephants in Thailand **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 29, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052 "2008-07-29T03:53:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/1 "2008-07-29T03:53:39Z")
Story [here](http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/uom-uff072308.php). Poor little guys. And if anyone sees these beasts on the streets of Bangkok, I urge you NOT to feed them the bananas or cucumbers being sold by their handlers. This city is a horrible environment for them, it’s supposed to be against the law for them even to be in Bangkok. All of the elephant organizations say it is not good to encourage the handlers to bring them in. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/2 "2008-07-29T04:23:06Z")
> [@](#): > > “Despite the move into tourism, we have found evidence that **street walking** persists in some areas and that can be traumatic for the animals and a nuisance for humans,” she said. I’ve heard of people going to Thailand for some wierd sex, but an elephant hooker would seem to create some logistical problems 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/3 "2008-07-29T04:31:18Z")
If the price is right, you can get \*anything \* here. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![FlyingRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FlyingRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlyingRat)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/4 "2008-07-29T06:13:29Z")
We see street elephants around here (lower Sukhumvit Road, a big expat area) all the time. Poor little babies. ☹ If you ever come to Thailand and want to see elephants, it’s important to do some research as to reputable places to go. The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (mentioned in the article) is a good one. I’ve been to the [Elephant Nature Park](http://elephantnaturefoundation.org) in Chiang Mai, and they take it a step further: none of the elephants there are worked at all, and the park’s founder forbids the use of the “hook” to control the elephants there (many of the park’s elephants have been horribly abused in the past). It’s an amazing place-- I want to go back and volunteer at some point. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2008, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/5 "2008-07-29T07:09:47Z")
Thanks for the imagery of a flabby farang getting his way with an elephant… [QUOTE=Siam Sam] If the price is right, you can get \*anything \* here. 😉 [/QUOTE] Brain bleach? Where? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uncertain-future-for-elephants-in-thailand/458052/6 "2008-07-30T04:02:58Z")
[QUOTE=Ale] Thanks for the imagery of a flabby farang getting his way with an elephant… [/QUOTE] One good thing about elephant hookers is that you know how some hotels won’t let you check in without any luggage? Well, an elephant always has a trunk. 😉