To be saddened people still do these things on holiday?

[lastqueenofscotland]

Had a summer of holidays pictures on social media m which had included a lot of people
Swimming with dolphins
Going to sea world in Orlando
Posing with drugged up tigers for pictures
Riding elephants in Thailand

So on and so forth. In an age where information about the poor treatment of these animals is so well known and freely available AIBU to feel a bit sad about it.
I also want to publicly call them out... but that won’t go well.

www.worldanimalprotection.org.nz/news/myth-domesticated-elephant

Also read this why you can’t domesticate a dolphin

www.worldanimalprotection.us/our-work/animals-wild/marine-animals-captivity/captive-bred-dolphins-interactive-programs

Elephants and horses have both been domesticated for thousands of years. And in significant numbers. Not sure why you think elephants were wild up until “today”.
Elephants and horses aren't the same.
Equally, there's a question mark over whether coexistence with elephants means domestication.

I'm still intrigued how taking a baby elephant from the wild and using them as a tourist attraction is a sign they're domesticated.

You're putting a lot of effort into what is essentially "I don't like people challenging the ethics of something I did on holiday"

@DoctorAllcome Cool - are we playing the thread-hunting game now? I’m quite good at that, too.

Maybe you should take on board your own sage advice, posted only yesterday:

“No one right all the time and so an adult should be able to take being wrong gracefully.”

Or you could, you know, come back with some actual facts rather than just claiming you’re right against all evidence.

We've taken our daughter on two Disney cruises and feel very strongly about dolphin riding and yeah, I'm with you. I judge these people. It bothers me. And at the same time I feel a ton of pressure not to say something about how awful the whole thing really is.

There is no such thing as ‘domestication’ of an elephant. It is called capture and abuse. If you think any differently then you’re ignorant to the facts.

Here’s an explanatory video:

www.smithsonianmag.com/videos/category/smithsonian-channel/breaking-an-elephants-spirit/

You can also search ‘phajaan’ the process used before an elephant is used for tourist purposes. Phajaan means crushing.

Also search ‘crush box’, the device used on the elephants.

If you seriously believe there’s no problem with riding elephants and ‘it’s just like riding horses’ then you’re either intentionally ignoring the facts or too stupid to understand them.

I went on a swimming with dolphin trip this year in Mexico. They assured us the dolphins are treated very well and live longer in there sea enclosures than in the wild. It was the sea and not small tanks however still captivity. I feel naive for believing this after reading all these posts. However it can’t be undone now 😳

Diamondsandjems
It can't be undone as you say, but moving forward you may do more research and unpick some of the claims these places make in future.

I hadnt considered the impact of voluntourism with kids (I'd never done it and hadn't considered it anything other than a nice thing to do). Then I trained to teach and gradually I realised how awful it is much of the time. It's having the open mind that matters

Totally outing but hey I will change my username afterwards.
I went to Thailand in 2000 and got attacked by an elephant while at a “show”. My sister got killed and my dad and I were seriously injured.
I was naive and stupid in not knowing the abuse these huge animals go through. I learnt the hard way.
I now do work with Save the Asian Elephants to make people aware of the dangers they are placing themselves in and the abuse they are supporting.
People have learnt over the last few years and films such as The Cove and Blackfish have helped to get the message out to people that animals in captivity is not acceptable.
Anyone disputing this just hasn’t read enough in my opinion. If I had known then I would never have gone and my sister would have been alive rather than dying aged 20.

When I visited Orlando with my DD I said we won't go to Sea World because I know for a fact the kidnap wild animals and force them to perform. Sea World is not about preserving animals and educating people, it's about making a profit at the expense of its captives.

I have swam with dolphins, but they were wild dolphins in Israel.

But I agree, when travelling and encountering animals one needs to do their research to see that the animals are well cared for and protected. I imagine the WWF and other similar organisations can help with that.

lastqueenofscotland completely agree with you OP - the MAJORITY of these animals are treated very badly, have been kidnapped, parents killed, drugged, whipped and mistreated to make sure they do not harm visitors. The camels in Egypt are treated barbarically and the little donkeys that are made to carry tourists up steep hills - worked to death. Thick tourists want their ‘insta-likes’ though! Pure thoughtless evil 😡

Trexdrip oh my you wonderful woman - I send my love and prayers for you and all you do ☺️

@TrexDrip I remember your attack being in the news, very vividly. I can't imagine how awful that was for you and your family.

It sounds as though you've taken that experience and are using it as positively as you can to help ensure that no-one else goes through that.

@TrexDrip there are no words. How absolutely heartbreaking for all involved, including the elephant. You are so strong and it is so admirable what you are doing now

@DoctorAllcome

Dolphins are already domesticated.

we manage the herds of the wild broncos by capturing and domesticating some of them.

You clearly don't know what domesticated means. You can't domesticate an individual animal. You can tame it, but it takes generations to domesticate an animal.

@TrexDrip 💐

I would just unfollow them that way you won't see them

It's fine to share your opinion I.e on FB if that's what you're referring to but rather than "calling people out" -because it's actually not your job and you will make yourself unpopular, just post something factual (a video for example) on whatever it is you disagree with.

There's lots of stuff online regarding those topics and why they are a bad for the animals and a poor choice to engage in.

You stand a better chance of educating these people without alienating yourself.

Often it's a lack of education that's in play rather than your nearest and dearest being selfish douches.

Thank you. The key thing is education. If people don’t know it is wrong to visit these places they will still visit.
That said I have had family and friends swim with dolphins and ride elephants since. Some people just turn a blind eye so they can “enjoy” the experience. Can’t help everyone, some people will always be stupid even when they know the dangers and abuse.
Look at it this way - an Asian elephant can weigh upto 6 tonne. A large SUV weighs about 5 tonne.
Would you put yourself in front of a large SUV that could go out of control ?
The animals are wild and it they can and do fight back against the horrid abuse they take to be broken for human entertainment.

@TrexDrip

That is so heartbreaking

So do horses enjoy being ridden

A lot of naive posters on this thread.

www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/2019/06/

Please read this great article on the hidden cost of wildlife tourism. An eco friendly elephant sanctuary in Thailand may not be all it seems.

There was a shocking article about an ethical big cat sanctuary in South Africa.

There are very, very few places where there is a genuinely ethical reason and purpose to human / wildlife interaction. Anywhere letting tourists ride elephants or pose with big cats is not one of these rare exceptions.

I worry that riding elephants is another form of thrill seeking, like bungee jumping because it is potentially dangerous and a ‘once in a lifetime’ bucket list experience not because they love the animal at all. I think elephants are amazing but I would not go near one.

I agree what people confuse tame with domesticated. No my dog is domesticated, he decends from a thousands of years old long line of domesticated animals that have never lived in the wild and have been bred to live with humans. He is not just tame. If he got lost from humans he would have very little chance of making it by himself and have some basic natural survival instincts but nothing like those of a wolf or wild animal at all. You can tame a fox, but you can’t domesticate just one Fox

To all of you who would consider swimming with dolphins.
Yes they tend to come to you in open sea, but studies have proved the crush of boats and people in the sea interferes with their feeding time, ie. they don’t spend enough time feeding and thus suffer malnutrition, all be it slowly but this effects the calves too and in a much greater and quicker way.
Every ‘photo op’ you have ever had with any animal not in its wild wild state, is a managed scenario to the detriment of that animal. More are captured for the purpose and the cycle just repeats. The very poor people who tend to do this are continually encouraged by our willingness to collude. Please do not participate, send money to registered animal charities instead, and do all you can to support wild life to remain wild..

@Vulpine

They have been bred to not fear humans like a wild horse and can be trained. I do not agree with horse racing I think it is cruel, but horses who are well fed and cared for, run around and socialise with other horses in fields do like human interaction and praise. They know who their owners are and are very responsive and intelligent. I believe they allow humans they trust to ride them because there is an incentive to do so - praise and treats, and enjoyment of travelling around as horses would do naturally. But the moment a horse fears you or is injured they can become dangerous - just like a dog can