Laos, Luang Prabang - Elephant Rides
During my visit to Lao's Luang Prabang province in September 2017, I came across many instances of tour agencies promoting elephant rides for tourists. These tours are usually marketed as educational and being part of the overall wildlife conservation efforts of the areas where these rides are offered. Besides Laos, these tourists-centric activities are also marketed throughout all the countries in Indochina, including Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand. I am personally not sure of the links between such rides and the respective local wildlife conservation efforts. What I am sure of is that these rides are far from educational. Capturing and harnessing these magnificent animals to be used as tourist attractions and for rides certainly do not seem educational to me. I would prefer to see these powerful animals roam free with their herds in their natural habitats. Observing them from a distance with binoculars and studying their natural habits and herd life would fit more into what ...