E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSI see almost 10,000 pictures a day, and many document some form of suffering. Some of that suffering is incidental as people try to survive, some happens in chaotic situations, and some is intentional. But in all of it, I've never seen an image of such a deliberate infliction of misery.
What's particularly effective about this picture is the baby elephant's flinch. She knows it's going to hurt - you can see her shying away from the blow, which is the point: to cause enough pain to break her will.
To learn how you can affect the situation, read on for a Q&A with photojournalist Brent Lewin, who won a Science/Natural History Award of Excellence for this image at the Pictures of the Year competition.
Brent Lewin / Redux Pictures
A baby elephant braces for a hit during a training session in a Karen village in Burma. The training session is coined the 'crush' as its goal is to break the elephant's spirit. Wild elephants are typically tied up and beaten for 3 days straight and left to starve. Burmese Karen mahouts near the Thai border operate a clandestine and illegal trade network smuggling elephants into Thailand to be sold to mahouts for the Thai tourism industry. Officials estimate that 1 Burmese elephant is smuggled into Thailand every week.
Q: What led you to this story, and how did you manage to make this picture? What were any difficulties you experienced?
A: I've been working on documenting the plight of the Asian elephant and their caregivers in Thailand since 2007. It started out with following mahouts and elephants that would beg on the street in Bangkok but as the story began revealing itself it started to become clear that the business that surrounds elephants is responsible for a lot of the problems. With elephant numbers on the decline for a long time in Thailand, the supply of elephants has been coming from smugglers across the border in Burma.
I went to Burma specifically to try and photograph elephants being trained. I had a contact there from an organization in Thailand but it turned out to be a bust. We drove for hours on a motorbike through a dirt path in the jungle only to find out that training had finished a few days before. I started asking around and a local did some research and found out about a young elephant that was set to be trained. We set off on another path in the jungle and showed up and managed to sweet talk our way in. The young elephant's mother was tied up near the training device and became really uncomfortable when she saw what was about to happen. I've never heard an elephant scream like that before, it felt like the ground shook and she actually broke off her chain and charged at mahouts and myself. The mahouts eventually scared the mother into submission and tied her up again and then started training her baby. The baby elephant was terrified and started crying. The biggest difficulty I experienced was not being able to put a stop to it. There was a point when the elephant just resigned to what was happening and stood still, the life in her eyes disappeared. It was a look that was haunting.
Q: How common is this practice?
A: It's a very traditional technique and quite common but it can vary in terms of the level of violence. It's not all black and white either, some progressive camps use positive reinforcement instead of beatings. There was a time when foreigners could watch elephant training in Thailand but some negative images came out and it's almost impossible as a foreigner to see this now.
Q: Are there organizations in the region working to prevent this treatment of elephants?
A:There are some good organizations working to protect elephants in Thailand. Elephant Nature Park and Elephant Conservation Network are doing really good work.
Q: How can tourists visiting Thailand either be part of the problem or part of the solution?
A: Though they are rare, supporting progressive elephant tourism companies that have an interest in conservation is a good place to start. Try to avoid supporting tourism that uses elephants to perform circus tricks. These outfits almost always chain their elephants up all day separated from one another. If you see an elephant being abused speak out and tell the owner. I'm confident in the coming years elephant tourism will change in Thailand and offer an alternative model to the one in place now.
Q: What has been the response to this image?
A: Disbelief and horror.
Leave a Comment:
THIS IS HOURRENDOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's a pity the mother elephant was scared off....perhaps if she had gotten hold of these "trainers", they would think twice before hitting another baby elephant. Disbelief and horror are so true....This is disgusting!
I am aware of such practices by Chola Kings used to tame and domesticate wild elephants (in XXX AD's), making it suitable for work and war. Never thought such a practice would still continue in Thailand. These guys are idiots.
Only cowards could do such a dispicable thing!
The elephants that you see today performing with circuses all around the world, including the U.S., have been trained like this. Most of the elephants were captured from the wild as babies, and "broken" so they could be trained. Those born in captivity undergo a similar process. The head of Ringling circus' breeding center, where they train their baby elephants performing today, testified in a federal trial recently that he would not allow photography or videotaping at the baby training sessions because they would offend modern sensibilities. Looking at this picture we can certainly believe him.
That's why I never go to anything that involves caged and broken animals. No circus', Disneys Animal Kingdom, Busch Gardens, Sea World, etc.
Why didn't the photographer and whoever was there watching this horric offense do something?????? I would have smashed their faces in. These torturers need to be tortured/killed. My heart breaks, I am sick to my stomach over this. I just want to cry.
sometimes a photo can be worth far more than an ass-beating. look at what the photograph that Eddie Adams took in 1968 did to the entire Vietnam war.
And, the photographer was probably highly outnumbered by thugs that were heavily armed.
I totally agree!!These cowardly sick individuals deserve the same done unto them!Cannot believe this is allowed!What is wrong with people?? They will one day have to answer for all they have done!
I agree with Dexter... The photographer might have been guarded and unable to do something. However this photo shows what these people are doing and if they were to intervene whos to say anyone would have seen this photo.
I agree... This photo makes me sick and breaks my heart. Seeing a helpless animal unable to defend itself and have to endure so much pain ... truly kills me.
I am NOT a PETA nut but I do not believe an animal should have to brace for a beating or be tortured. Unthinkable in my eyes.
Your not a PETA "nut"?? I like to introduce myself, my name is Debby. I recently became aware of how animals are "trained" in circus acts. It sickened me to know that they are beaten until they "learn" how to sit on a can for humans to be "entertained" by this. I never thought about animals in zoos or circus acts, as being sad or even beaten. My daughter educated me as to how they feel and what tactics are used to train ALL the animals to perform silly acts . I am so glad I now know . I am not a "nut" .....but....I now am a proud member of PETA.......and if NOT liking animals caged & beaten for their whole like is "being a NUT"..........then YES I am the biggest nut and proud to be one.
: )
I am crying at my desk .. yes, at my lousy job ... i love it 'cause they pay me see .. they pay me to have a car, to have a roof over my head .. but what i would give to leave here and be with those baby elephants 24/7 watching over them and GUARDING THEM FROM HORRIFIC PEOPLE THAT GET PAID TO BEAT AND TORTURE ANIMALS!!! WHAT I WOULD GIVE!!! WE ALL HAVE TO COME TOGETHER AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS .. I'M SURE IF WE TOOK THE TIME OUT OF HER MEANINGLESS LIVES AND YES, LOOK AT SOME OF THE STUFF YOU DO .. AT HOME, EVEN AT WORK ... C'MON!!! WE CAN TAKE THAT TIME AND DONATE IT TO THESE BABIES!!! .. I am going to do my research ... i am crying at my desk ... :'(
I can't believe that people can do such horrible things to these magnificent animals. I agree with one who said only cowards could do such a thing.
This horrific picture speaks volumes about humanity. Anyone who can inflict or cause such unbearable pain and suffering to a defenseless animal does not have the right or deserve to be part of this world.
I just want to take the stick, tie up these men and do the same thing to them. Heck, I'd hand the stick over to the rest of you as soon as we get tired.
FURIOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I concur.
what can I do? now, today?
@ Susan-2988624
What you can do today is to never attend any circus that has trained animals. Even though you'd probably not see them struck by a trainer, they've all been trained this way. Don't ride an elephant. Don't support any media that use trained animals. All domesticated elephants used in entertainment, trekking, logging, film and TV, etc. have all been trained in a similar manner. Even elephants in tourist camps in Asia have been trained this way, although the babies born at the camps may not be trained quite as harshly as wild caught elephants. They still have to be broken and trained to perform, play soccer, do tricks or paint pictures. Don't buy paintings that were made by elephants.
I love elephants and work to save them. Both African and Asian elephants are endangered. There are actually only one-tenth the number of elephants in Asia as in Africa. If you travel to Africa or Asia, please don't patronize any business that uses elephants to entertain visitors. There are safari drives in Africa that don't interfere with wildlife. In Thailand, there are Elephant Nature Park and Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary where you can visit elephants that have been rescued from working. They do not put on shows, instead you will see them living a more natural life.
Basically, only support proper sanctuaries that rescue elephants from working and give them a natural life. Don't support anyone or anything that exploits elephants. I hope this has given you a few ideas.
Is there anything else we can do to stop these atrocities happening there right now?
What is wrong with people like that, is it just pure evil? I hope that when they die they are tied up like that and beaten by a demon for all eternity!
Unfortunately, since there is no afterlife, that's never going to happen. Sorry... maybe do something about it now instead
That poor, precious animal. Something needs to be done in Burma and Thailand. Those men are ignorant, savage, and stupid. And I agree, the photographer should have done anything to stop this cruelty! Let's at least support the organizations mentioned.
Elephants are my favorite animals. They are regal and noble, and should be treated as such!
Anyone who tortures them like this should be whipped with chains until they lose consciousness!!
Before I read this article, I thought that only the elephants in Africa were threatened by mankind's cruelty, viciousness and greed.
Elephants right here in the US are treated that way, in the circus and some zoos, and most of them are Asians because they are smaller. Ones born in circuses here are taken from their mothers as babies and stripped of their spirit through cruel confinement and beatings. For their entire lives, circus elephants are confined on chains or traveling in train box cars nearly 24 hours a day.
Maggie- I agree. In Burma's regulated logging industry (country has about 3000 legal elephants pulling logs out of the forest), they let the baby stay with the mother and don't allow the baby elephants to be "broken" until they are 3-4 yrs old. I don't understand why our USDA allows Ringling to have a baby elephant that is NOT even 2 yrs old go on tour? Now that baby has the elephant herpes virus from stress and abuse. Even a country that accepts, admits, allows photos and videos of this practice keeps babies and their moms together until fully weaned at 3-4.
sometimes a photo can be worth far more than an ass-beating. look at what the photograph that Eddie Adams took in 1968 did to the entire Vietnam war.
And, the photographer was probably highly outnumbered by thugs that were heavily armed.
I'd love to tie them to a tree and cut their balls off. Nuff said. Don't support anything that cages animals. I was in Thailand recently where they were charging for elephant rides......no way!
Its not done as an act of evil its done as an act of greed. Supply=Demand. You can stop the demand for these animals by not attending any circus that one of these animals are performing in. It may sound simple but this is where it starts. A ticket to a big name circus cost $34 USD and some how the money trickles back to these guys. If you want to do more print out a handful of these photos and go to the circus and hand these photos to the parents that have 4 kids coming out of the circus.
I am so horrified I can't even speak. Why was there no warning for this image? I was looking at art pieces and Justin Bieber pics before this, then wham! I am so sick over this, so sick.
It is horrible to see something like this and it is even worse to think it happens daily there.
I am not a PETA nut but I do believe that an animal has feelings and feels just the same amount of pain we do. I understand that some animals are meant for labor but that doesn't mean you have beat them and make them into sketchy beings.
I mean look at this poor baby (KEY WORD BABY) elephant... it braces for a hit. That is so horrible and disgusting... It just makes me want to turn and and beat the hell out of that guy with that stick and starve him for 3 days. Waterboard him till he feels like he wants to die.
ABSOLUTELY TERRIBLE. Breaks my heart.
Is there anything we can do to stop this brutality?
You can support the organizations that rescue the old and injured elephants. Many of the elephants in Thailand that are used for tourism are the old/injured logging elephants smuggled from Burma. Life only gets worse for them when people ride on their backs for hours on trekking adventures. You can raise awareness on the plight of elephants. Definately do not go to the shows with animal acts and if they come to your town, complain. Chicago is not even on the tour route for Ringling anymore! Now that's a start. Change is very slow, but it will happen over time.
Anyone who hurts an animal, for any reason, should have his n**s cut off with no anesthesia
Is there anything proactive we can do to help stop this atrocity over there?
Donate to elephant sanctuaries. Research and only contribute to the top one. Make sure the money you donate is used properly.
I'm with Renee...Is there ANYTHING that can be done right now, other than the obvious(not going to circus' etc)...As a mom, I can't imagine the gut wrenching pain having to watch, helpless, as any one of my children was being hurt in any way, much les beaten and tortured into submission. Mothers, as a general rule, whether in the animal kingdom or human, protect their babies at ANY cost...and this is especially true with elephants. Obviously there are exceptions to every rule but I can't begin to imagine the anguish and pain that the Mother elephant must have been feeling as she had to stand there and watch that horrifying scene, being threatened herself, being rendered completely helpless. There is no possible excuse for this and I am with you all..let me know when and where we are meeting and I will be more than happy to help them experience what pain and torture is really like at the other end of that stick!
Tammi, we may not be able to do any right now with the elephants in Asia, but we can advocate against circuses right now, right here in the US. Most if not all of the older elephants in circuses were caught this way in Asia and brought here to spend their lives in chains. Elephants born here are also subjected to being taken away from their mothers and "trained" (i.e., chained, deprived of food and water, and beaten with bullhooks). Their methods may not seem "quite as harsh" as what we see in this photograph, because it happens in a more controlled environment.
This is horrible, sad, disgusting. This happens to baby circus elephants too. I feel so bad for the photographer. It must have been extremely difficult for him to take photographs and be unable to do anything to help that poor baby.
In terms of training cruelty, this photo is in the "middle". It's current practice today (has been for centuries and likely will not change in my lifetime). Mortality rate for the baby elephants in training is very high and smuggling is a huge problem from Burma to Thailand (for tourism, trekking, zoos, circus) and Burma to China (for meat and tusks). Been told this is the method in North America too - but I'm not certain of that. It's about supply demand: Don't go to the circus, don't ride on an elephant (or take part on trekking adventures) and don't buy chinese herbs with a horn or tusk on the front of it! It's also about awareness: pass on this information and voice your opinion.
What kind of people live and breath on this planet???? If this can be videod then why could this Eliphant not have been saved???!!! and also if this is happening every week then surely it should by now be stopped as it appears someone knows it is happening so why is it still going on??!!!