Elephant FORCED to paint at the Maesa Elephant Camp -Chiang Mai , Thailand

(Asia 36) At the Maesa Elephant camp in Chiang Mai , Thailand , elephants preform various tricks for the audience. But this blew my mind. I have heard of Elephants painting before but , I always assumed they were abstract looking nonsense. Here we see a male 8 year old named "Pangkwan" render a landscape scene complete with mountains , sky , grass , and even a flowering tree. UNBELIEVABLE !
But there is a very dark side to this story. At the time that I shot this video , (sept 2014) I had no idea about the physical and mental abuse that these pachyderms are put through. In the words of a report by " One Green Planet'', the high intelligence of elephants is often credited with their ability to learn how to paint so effortlessly. However , just as an elephant in the wild would not choose to jump into a handstand , it is not likely that they ever aspire to be a Pachyderm Picasso either.
When the young calves in the camp nursery reached 2 years of age , it was time to separate them from their mothers , and put to work. The report goes on to talk about how these elephants are put through months of physical abuse to learn how to hold a paintbrush , draw straight lines , and paint shapes like flowers and trees. these elephants are broken and experience the pain of the phajaan process. over this time baby elephants are starved , shackled, and beaten until their spirit is completely broken and will submit to the will of their captors. So , what we see here is essentially a slave trained to be a robot. I am writing this edited description over 4 years later , and I struggled with the decision whether I should remove this video all together , or let it stay with a more in-depth description. I am choosing to leave it up hoping that more people will understand what it took me years to find out. Removing it , would do nothing because the abuse will still be happening , and knowledge is power.

[@TravelsChases]

PLEASE READ FULL DESCRIPTION BEFORE VIEWING THIS VIDEO

[@musicjunk1000]

better pin your description. its more direct.

[@onofriopiccolino5166]

The description of the video is false. The elephant is not being forced to paint. Elephants are not taken from the wild. Do you know how much food a elephant has to eat ? How do you expect elephant parks to make the money to feed these elephants. You are doing harm to the elephants lively hood. A elephant can’t be introduced to the wild if born in captivity

[@rockethead7]

The trick is done by "training" the elephant to steer its trunk in the direction the mahout pulls the ear. The ear becomes a remote control joystick for the trunk/paintbrush. The elephant never learns to create art, doesn't know what it's painting, nor is this just rote learning of patterns. The elephant is just a giant living remote control arm for the mahout trainer, who is directing every action.

[@truthseeker1278]

@@rockethead7 OMG! Of course the know what they are painting! How can U be so naive?!

[@rockethead7]

@@truthseeker1278 YOU SAID: "OMG! Of course the know what they are painting! How can U be so naive?!" == Because the former mahouts say how the trick was done. Because there are countless videos of elephants writing words in every human language (anything the buyer asks for). Because the only places this "miracle" happens is in tourist traps in Thailand. Because if the elephants really could create art, and communicate in every human language via written words, every certified zoologist on the face of the Earth would be rushing to study these animals. Because anybody with an IQ above 50 should be able to recognize a scam when he/she sees it. Good grief. You think elephants are artists, and/or can write words in every human language, and you're calling ***ME*** naive???

[@Paradigm2012Shift]

He has obviously been watching Bob Ross's "The Joy of Painting" on PBS.

[@zildafatima8964]

Coisa mais linda do mundo e verdade que ele pinta não dá para acreditar não e montagem

[@sungsung5186]

Awww,he didn't beat the devil out of it though

[@runewolf77]

Cute

[@ChibiGrl]

Don’t you see the sharp prode on the man’s waist? He uses that to jab the elephant if he or she makes a mistake

[@lsmart]

@@ChibiGrl You talk about people being naïve, and then try to sell this nonsense? I have seen several videos in which lions attack elephants and bite them for as long as 3 or 4 minutes from several places, yet the elephant walks away with only minor wounds because his hide is incredibly thick and hard and cannot even be punctured easily by a powerful lion's teeth, yet you want to convince people that the mahout can force it to do things by jabbing it lighting it lightly with a pointy prod that opposing videos on KZbin show are not even sharp?

[@crestfallenmortal6533]

Alr so Bob Ross is living out his reincarnation days as an elephant.

[@ChibiGrl]

Stop being ignorant, this is animal cruelty

[@anAeijingBuffoon]

Great trunk eye coordination.

[@catherinetobin5716]

These animals seem like they have luxury! But are secretly broken, because of the abuse they have been through. They don’t give them comfort, and force them to do a variety of tricks, and cool varieties of unique talents. But they force them To have that talent, and it’s not right. It’s WRONG! Just because their animals, doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. Reach out to animals! And GIVE THEM LOVE! Let them roam, and be free. And don’t keep them hostage! This is cruel and unbelievable! The variety of people abusing these elephants, Have gone too far! CAPTURING, and FORCING animals to do things, they can’t! They will get a beating if they don’t do something correctly. And fuck those un-loyal people who don’t give a shit about animals. Hear me out, they’re forced to do this! And if humans are gonna take over this planet, and not care about the feelings hurt all over the world.. then fuck em right out of your life, and help the empty. PS. All these people hating on this comment, baby animals, and newborns are being abused by zoo keepers, and they capture them by aggressively holding them on a rope. And also, stay safe out there. Another message- animals have been transitioned, and removed from places they belong. They are brung to a hostage community full of abusive hands, and dirty symptoms of abuse. They starve the animals, until they get something right.. and that will take months to figure it out! Even though elephants are smart........ Their brain will start to rot because of this burden behavior. Give the poor species a break! And don’t starve them, feed them, and comfort them as much as you can, Even if you aren’t there to help them! Think about them, don’t be an abusive beast to them... and be harmless, and kind to an animal that is harmless to you especially. It’s not beneficial for this planet to keep growing, and keep dying. All animals will be extinct, because of us. I’m not saying all humans are beasty rats, I’m just saying some people need to stop This abusive behavior against animals. This war is not funny- some people may be heartless, and think it’s cool and amazing. Like- just shut tf up 👌🏻 THESE ANIMALS HAVE GONE THROUGH TOO MUCH HARM AS THEIR LIVES HAS WENT ON! *Y’ALL GOTTA GET YOUR LIFE TOGETHER, AND HELP THESE POOR, DYING, HARMLESS, AMAZING, TALENTED CREATURES!* the abuse has gone TOO FAR I TELL YOU! Idc if you complain, or piss and moan. I don’t give a shit about people complaining about this is not right, or that is not right! IM SORRY FOR MY FAR OFF COMPETITIVE LANGUAGE! I’m just so angry this has gone too far! MY FINGERS ARE SWOLLEN FROM WRITING THIS! PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, 🥵 I CANT TAKE THIS ABUSE, THAT CAN HURT SO MANY KIND PIECES OF AN ANIMAL, ESPECIALLY HOSTILE ANIMALS! FORCING THEM TO STARVE, AND MAKING THEM “UNBREAKABLE”! Us used to be.. harmless creatures, and now we are beasts of all kind. Some people are trying to fight against children abuse, sexual abuse, and animal cruelty abuse. I’m trying to cut off this crap, I’m trying to help. BUT NOBODY UNDERSTANDS HOW HURT ANIMALS CAN BE SOMETIMES! It’s like a cave of burden and uncovered, and exposed depression.. to everyone on this planet. I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND ME!... help me.. and others out there, and people in this comment section.... *stop the abuse* I feel so angry, and exposed to the internet. (Which i maybe am) it’s so depressing to see these animals die.. horrifically. I need water, My life has been so hard. I can’t take this anymore.. I’m gonna literally change my channel into a warning signal action.. to all beings on this planet. Now help me.. we can do this together. Forever.

[@catherinetobin5716]

And thank you so much for hearting my comment. It lets me know.. that you know what’s happening! I love you as a subscriber.. ❤️ 💕

[@nicolishoss7116]

Elephants painting is amazing BUT the uploaded is right (in description) these elephants go threw a great deal of torture from there 'carers' to learn n force them to paint. So yes its amazing to watch but the truth behind it is heart wrenching

[@dannymacoi2287]

The moment you feel useless, cuz an elephant can paint better than you 😂😂.

[@runewolf77]

I don't feel useless, but I love watching elephants paint.

[@7xynOLDCHANNEL1209]

She can paint better than me but I don't feel jealous

[@EPCRh]

These circuses should be banned by international agreement. Absolute abuse for amusement.

[@tgrlilly]

@@runewolf77 Do you love watching elephants do this? kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@runewolf77]

@@tgrlilly yeah that's evil, but what does it has to do with this video?

[@user-jh4kp9lz4b]

I strongly protest against forcing young males and females of genus homo sapiens sapiens to perform absolutely unnatural tricks with letters and numbers. Being a father, I must confess it is quite usually against their evident will!

[@athamas1294]

Bastards are abusing these poor creatures 😠😠😠👊🏻

[@tickedoffsheikh8587]

God's creation. That's why we need to treat every living being with care and respect. This is mind boggling to me. Is it for you?????

[@ToDamnRight]

It is, just makes me sad that it isn't out in the he wilderness

[@barbarachipman9436]

i find this to be so incredible.

[@waltersalley7781]

Yes it is. Very.

[@carolames7624]

An animal is a sentient being with a mind, heart and spirit and a unique individual, more than just a piece of "God's creation." They should be free to enjoy lives worth living, without human "stewardship" a/k/a exploitation.

[@ChibiGrl]

@@barbarachipman9436 it’s not incredible it’s sick and you’re sick supporting this kind of cruelty

[@juanitaaranez3075]

thats tortured and abused of the elephant! some body we don"t know the back story the elephant, will teaching them lot of pain, poke the bull hooks, put the chain, stop tortured the elephants, give them freedom, freedom as a elephant, released that to the jungle

[@nawjung3849]

So dogs don't buy And put a chain around the neck Cats don't buy And carry it to raise cattle, pigs, chickens, fish, shrimp, do not eat and let go the jungle

[@patricia2645]

Some elephants do enjoy painting, but this one not so much. They smile and are excited to paint when they do

[@syesistemas7342]

No es arte, es maltrato animal "phajaan elephant" No todo lo que se ve es como parece... Todos estos trucos, estar de pie sobre una pierna, pintar un cuadro o incluso dejar que los turistas se suban a su espalda es mediante entrenamientos de azotes y golpes al elefante desde muy pequeños. Mientras el elefante está pintando, el entrenador está al lado del elefante, usando un clavo o una instrumento afilado en la parte inferior de la oreja del elefante para causar dolor al animal si desobedece. El entrenador usa este instrumento afilado para maniobrar la cabeza del elefante para pintar la imagen. Realmente no estás pagando por una ilustración de elefante, es una extensión del brazo de entrenador. Phajaan rompe el elefante para que se vuelva sumiso y pueda ser entrenado para servir en una industria rentable.

[@digitalbath2766]

Absolutely heartbreaking. The human species doesn’t deserve these beautiful animals.

[@oreoo694]

When you realize they are being abused so they can do that...

[@AngryGnome87]

When you realize you say that without evidence 😂🤣😂

[@ChibiGrl]

@@AngryGnome87 you’re an idiot

[@ChibiGrl]

@@AngryGnome87 THE EVIDENCE was right on the dude’s waist!!!! The sharp object that’s attached to a stick on his waist is what the trainers use to JAB AND STAB the elephants if the animal makes a mistake!!!

[@ChibiGrl]

Unknown, It breaks my heart to see this! To see the people clap without any prior knowledge of the abuse or cruelty is blissful ignorance

[@oreoo694]

@@ChibiGrl yeah it's very very sad, poor animals they don't deserve this

[@onofriopiccolino5166]

I don’t see where the elephant is being forced to paint. I see a man gave the elephant a treat before the elephant finished the painting. Painting gives elephants something to do so they aren’t bored

[@reignchristain8260]

Do some research.. yes they abuse the animals to teach the method..

[@Dwayenna]

please have a look at this footage of an animal rights group to see the reallity behind this practice: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKiph3mQmZZ5pqs

[@hasnain12345100]

The man is doing something behind the elephant

[@bqgin]

hang the painting on the fridge and give the elephant some watermelon

[@zildafatima8964]

🌷🌷🌸🌸🌻

[@alpacino4857]

what this editor is saying, the more support you give to the elephant painting show, the Thai people will continue to torture more elephant young calves to make the show survive. It is like "when the buying (of elephant tusks) stop, the killing stop" So when people don't turn up to support the show, the torture on young calves will stop. They are ways to improve the tourist sectors without the need to harm wild animals. Elephants belong to the wild, there should release them back to the wild. Why capture them and make them to do task ?

[@snehagudhka1782]

Poor elephant. They r forcing him 😳

[@srikotlasiddardth6039]

What is that sound?? Sounds like a taser.

[@angebrowne1730]

Thank you for enlightening.

[@D-Rizzle653]

Sad about the abuse preparations but it's so beautiful to see there ability to paint i feel abit mixed wether it's worth it... scratch that!

[@RomeoMontagueidv]

But nobody knows the truth behind those paintings and how humans got those poor elephants to paint. But i do.

[@catherinetobin5716]

JG Alegria OH STOP IT! Everybody understands! AND STOP BEING SO RUDE TO OTHERS! THIS IS KIND OF OFFENSIVE TO ME, AND CAN BE TO OTHERS!!

[@mightyspirit7]

Awesome

[@andor888]

A "slave trained to be a robot". Well, that's beasts of burden for you. Just in general, really. This case is kind of unique though, in that these specific beasts were transitioned from doing heavy, to doing light, but very precise work. Because the heavy work option was outlawed. They basically stopped using them as forklifts, and now they make them paint by controlling their trunks, with the movement instructions relayed with applying pressure by hand on their skin, usually behind or on their ears. Kind of like how you'd control a robotic arm with a joystick, except this one happens to be a mammal. Beats being a forklift, I guess. Here's the kicker though: If you just want an elephant to paint, there would be no need for any of this. All this is done to make the end product (the painting) pleasing to the humans. Thing is, elephants do doodle sometimes in mud or dirt using sticks. If all you wanted is an elephant using paint on a canvas, then just teach it to dip a brush in paint before they draw the lines, and to push somewhat gently on the canvas so as to not rupture it. That's literally it. So why do all the additional manipulation? Well, elephants tend to not draw nature scenes. Or anything a human would consider a "scene" in any sense, for that matter. So, an original elephant painting would look a bit abstract to most of us. What does it look like to them? Oh who the hell knows. And so, their trainers control their every movement to make the painting what they would like it to be. It's essentially a human painting through an elephant. Of course, the elephants can and will learn to repeat, and so draw by themselves, specific shapes after a period of training. That doesn't mean it suddenly realized "ooooh, so THAT'S how you draw an elephant / a tree / a flower". It means the former beast of burden has successfully memorized some strange hieroglyphs their keepers have been drawing through them by squeezing their ears. I felt it was important to put this into perspective. PS. I wonder what would happen if you taught the elephant to associate tangible objects with these simple shapes. Would that constitute as elephant writing?

[@andor888]

@KSI And a nice "ooga booga" to you too, young lady.

[@andor888]

@KSI And I'm not a boomer. Or your "fam". I don't even get how anyone would think this is the proper context to use "ok boomer".

[@andor888]

@KSI You know, using "Ok boomer" in place of "TL;DR" is basically not understanding how memes work. Which is a boomer stereotype. Congratulations. Oh and it looks like the uploader and at least one other person cared. That comment is not there to be some shitpost fishing for likes, it's there for those few people who care about the topic. Obviously not you, so kindly sod off.

[@SToXC_.]

i would 1000% times prefer to watch an actual elephant painting something that is inside his mind, it's just so much more interesting than seeing an elephant painting something he's taught to by humans, even if there was no torture it d still be Meh.

[@paulcurtis9852]

It must take many, many hours of training for the elephant to be able to make the fine movements that his Mahout requires of him. The trainer continually gives vocal directions as well as hand movements under the elephant's ear. This is all done, of course, out of sight. It certainly gives the allusion that the elephant is the one composing the painting. Amazing stuff, none the less!

[@ChibiGrl]

If you did any real research you’d know that they’re beaten and starved to do this. It’s inhumane and cruel

[@koichidignitythief7429]

you realize A. he liked has a nail in his hand to stab the elephant's sensitive ears. B. Everyone of these mfs are carrying Bullhooks. What do you suppose they're for?

[@hardcandy921]

They use a lot of torture, using bull hooks, nails to the ear during the "performance", and painful, studded chains around their feet for up to 18 hours, to get them to do these paintings. It's all for tourist money, and these animals are miserable and often in pain. kzbin.info/www/bejne/n4LWmGB7eMh4i80

[@bitmysleeve]

OMG! Look at that painting! Looks amazing!😍

[@tgrlilly]

Did you not read the caption??? This animal has been abused.

[@naturewatcher7596]

Yes, I think that the trainer's ability to paint improved over the years of doing this trick.

[@hardcandy921]

Horrific abuse "trained" this animal to paint. It would shock you, make you sick, if you saw what they have to go through. They are miserable and humans are awful for allowing this.

[@naturewatcher7596]

@@hardcandy921 Calm down. Watch first how people train dangerous dogs to behave well. Elephants are way bigger and more dangerous then the dog, so you have to use special training tools to make them obey you.

[@tong220113]

Wow.... Amazing

[@keepwildinthewild]

This is a prison for elephants! That buzzing sound is electric prods they use on her to remind them of the time they spent as babies during Pajaan. And those sticks with sharp medical hooks on it.. them are called bullhooks in which they use to beat and stab them. especially when they were two years of age when they don't do the trick right. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWqqeq2Ihbx2hbk kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5O3e6CPgbGBhaM kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYucgISodpWnopY

[@wildafrica626]

Read the entire description. The elephants are being forced to do this. You need to read this! The person who took this video knows what they are talking about..

[@araberry4355]

This elephant is Bob Ross.

[@tanjanovicic2926]

❤💙💛More than beautifully.....

[@deepspace5121]

Urgh! I feel sad for these elephants if it is true that they are mentally and physically abused to perfectly get the instructions of the trainer. At first I'm so amazed that they can do this kind of art but when it comes to abuse I beg to disagree. Yeah, it's good to see that they can paint but no need to abuse them

[@priyashanthadesilva9568]

He is a rebirth of Da Vinci

[@reverenceforall]

Cruel and inhumane.

[@zoot7981]

???

[@omarbaca3435]

Left is right look for a video on how they’re trained to paint...you’ll be disgusted

[@avian3770]

Elephants are good painters :D my mom's favorite animal of all I think :)

[@akshata7996]

I have heard that they are offered sugarcane after they complete the painting as a reward. So they are very exited while painting.

[@margaretzhu4553]

CodeWorks Maybe a few do but most of them don’t. Search up “Phajaan” and you can see that elephants like this are abused and mistreated for entertainment

[@tgrlilly]

You heard wrong.

[@firasjawjad436]

1:36

[@BlackPanther-vk5ew]

Why would you consider removing Anything is beyond me. You want the Whole story and truth coming out as YOU experienced it! Not....what the rest of us ....many Fake people to see or know what is reality!! Great video ....great info. If everyone be reads the paragraph below your video!!

[@ici70yz49]

Dvinci reincarnation

[@naomiturner3957]

Thats amazing

[@vishnuvishnu.m3109]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@marquxcelis2397]

imagin elephants ar the top paiters

[@rodjaneformanes3500]

Lol the paint of Elephant is better than mine 😂👌

[@sirenasuena]

Amazing! I have a painting just like that one on my wall. Lol

[@hazelhashbrown8500]

sirenasuena it isnt cute they are poked with nails to teach them how to and they shove paintbrushes in their trunks which has many nerves

[@zoot7981]

you must be fun at parties

[@organicgardenmamavictoriab2768]

I don't see anyone beating the elephant.

[@tgrlilly]

here you go. This is how these beautiful animals are trained to paint kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@michellecarino7381]

It's okay to trained but not hurting them to do paint such as using sharp things or sticks on them.Actually you don't need this people good people will come anyways coz elephants are great already .

[@peterandro5974]

That is truth but it's unrelated to painting. This is the sad process they use to domesticate the elephant for anything. It is very sad. Just like cowboys break the will of wild horses. That is sad also but in the US they use it for show just the same.

[@swathim2577]

It is so bad that the elephant is forced

[@DTA-me3kv]

Do they beat them? What u mean FORCED??

[@TravelsChases]

I explained it the best way I could in the description . To the untrained tourist which I was at the time , everything looks so nice and amazing , but it is really a dark story .

[@catherinetobin5716]

DTA 4321 hear the truth.

[@txaytay1270]

I feel like a terrible painter when I watch elephants paint..

[@barbarachipman9436]

can these paintings be purchased?

[@TravelsChases]

Yes.

[@catherinetobin5716]

Travels & Chases sorry about the lady under your comment, she really needs to read the description like I did

[@catherinetobin5716]

JG Alegria get a grip of yourself little missy, not to start any drama. But that sounded sassy.

[@barbarachipman9436]

@@catherinetobin5716 I am the biggest empath there is. Are you a vegan? I am. You know nothing about me. Check yourself.

[@myworld280]

I'm so sad for them, animal rescue please save this creature they use them for money not love, 😥😢😢😭

[@TamaraGermanovna]

Какой молодец! Я бы его расцеловала! Старательный и талантливый слоник.

[@naturewatcher7596]

Надо тренера расцеловать - это он кистью слона управляет. 😁

[@topixfromthetropix1674]

The elephants are trained to paint and perform to attract tourists so they can buy elephant food, pay for veterinary services, and maintain their camp in the Mae Sa valley. With many tribal farmers willing to shoot elephants that get in their crops, being in an elephant camp can be a safe haven for elephants.

[@tgrlilly]

Lies. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@rockethead7]

That sounds nice and all, but, sorry, they shouldn't use deceptive practices like these elephant paintings in order to justify what you're saying. They are pretending the elephants are artists, and selling the paintings. In reality, the elephant is just steering its trunk in the direction the mahout is tugging the ear. The mahout/trainer is the artist, and the elephant's trunk is just a giant living remote controlled arm. That's not what the buyers of the paintings are expecting, and it's dishonest to represent it as otherwise.

[@wildafrica626]

You did not read the full description!!! This no safe haven for elephants. Elephants have very sensitive nerve endings at the end of their trunks, so this alone is painful for her. ..

[@Simple_living25]

Celebrity elephant 😍

[@smart2117]

Sad reality is those elements are treated with cruelty....

[@DivergentDroid]

The painting Elephant must see - now thats just silly, how are you going to get an elephant to watch KZbin?

[@TravelsChases]

Divergent Droid you do realize that an elephant also filmed this video right?

[@DivergentDroid]

Well, some people are fat sure but that's just rude 😁

[@greenlife8135]

There is no any different between elephant circus and elephant painting.. both are cruel activities.. they are not willing to work like this..they forced to do this..

[@shelenagibbons9353]

I love it

[@tgrlilly]

Do you love this?kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@dioanantya2566]

Animal abusing, the guard use the hook to beat them in the process of training

[@_usaball]

Is there any proof for that statement? If so I'll definitely read.

[@AHTNTE3NC]

It is very smart animal! I like it very much.

[@catherinetobin5716]

JG Alegria I agree, I just changed my channel into a stop animal cruelty channel.

[@snakesollid1798]

😳 this elephant can paint 100 times better than average Americans.

[@holisticcatalyst]

They do not draw people

[@vqfive]

Doesn't look forced to me

[@wildafrica626]

She is! Notice the trainer is hiding from everyone. If you can see, the elephant does not close her mouth. It's because the mahout is holding her tightly so she can't. He grasps her trunk maneuvering it to where he wants her to put the brush .At the same time, he is pressing a nail to her ear so she cooperates.

[@garymiddleton658]

Let's put a happy little tree right here

[@flipperdale51]

He paints better than most people--give him his own show.

[@immonienarcisse4129]

Sad how they’re “ trained “ but they could dealing with much worse I.e being hunted

[@leoadian1229]

not all elephant trainings are bad, there are some captivities that use positive reinforcement to train

[@denniswhite7736]

Looks like elephants. Dolphins how to paint. Dolphins. Bob Ross how to paint, but Bob Ross couldn't teach jackass to paint. This is why the Elephant is the logo mascot of the Republican party.

[@rosalindkover9341]

this is disgusting...i am sure there are a million things an elephant would rather be doing ...find another way to make a living and leave the beautiful sad creatures be. what a cruel world it is...

[@loydwalters4334]

I agree with you, that it’s not right for them or any animal to be forcibly put on display to do tricks. However, maybe if enough people see the wonders that animals are capable of through exhibitions such as these, more people may begin to see the true emotion and intelligence animals possess. When most mammals are in the wild they often find time to celebrate life through play, some even seek toys. Watching elephants in the wild playing with a giant ball in a pond would be entertaining, although, I now wonder if given paint and brushes with a blank wall, could a free elephant in his natural environment actually teach us something? It’s a shame that animals basically have to demonstrate human traits before we’ll stop killing them.

[@rosalindkover9341]

@@loydwalters4334 thank for your thoughtful reply....you make a good point..educating people to the intelligence and sensitivity of animals is essential to engage their hearts and minds...however, it does make me very sad to see the elephants performing -probably for hours on end in the hot sun....to entertain tourists and earn money for their owners..

[@foiturelaye2102]

Jesus christ both of you are sad, if an animal does anything remotely talented you freaks automatically lable it "unnatural" or "abusive". Smh.

[@tgrlilly]

@@foiturelaye2102 That's because we have seen things you obviously have not. Educate yourself. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@betulapendula7661]

Killers 😈

[@lsmart]

There are hundreds of comments and videos on KZbin repeating the charges that all the elephant painting is achieved by torture, but no one has yet shown even a shred of evidence. Your title also clearly suggests evidence of forced painting, yet you too just rehash the litany of charges w/o showing any evidence. I saw one video by the One Green Planet group with a long article about the torture used to get them to paint, but the video they show with 2 minutes of brutal torture of a baby elephant shows no evidence of its link to painting. How do I know that is not to get them to perform some animal tricks. I abhor animal torture as much as anyone, esp. of such gentle creatures as elephants, but if, after all these years, they can't sneak in a spy with a cellphone to document this cruelty at even a single training camp and show them torturing elephants while teaching them to paint, I have to believe it is not true.

[@rockethead7]

Well, I think you're never going to find direct video evidence linking torture to painting. They're not exactly going to film it, right? Most of the evidence is historical, given by testimony of former trainers who have said how it's done. They'd need some sort of a sting operation with undercover operatives to actually catch stuff like that on video... something the Thailand government is very unlikely to spend resources on. Personally, I don't know whether they use positive reinforcement to train the elephants to steer their trunks in the direction the mahouts tug the ears (which is how the painting trick is done), or if they use negative reinforcement (torture). But, I think the best way to end this kind of activity is to quite thoroughly expose that it's just a parlor trick. People will not pay as much money for paintings that the trainer is creating, just using the elephant's trunk like a living remote controlled arm. People pay because they think the elephants are actually artists. Take away that deceptive revenue by educating the gullible potential buyers that it's just a trick, and then there'd be no need to train the elephants at all, positive or negative.

[@lsmart]

@@rockethead7 We live in the modern era. There are small cameras and cellphones even in Thailand. If this were a widespread thing, it shouldn't be hard for some animal rights org. to take hidden films. If there are former workers telling what they saw, one of them could have filmed it. As for your 2nd argument, what do you mean remote control? The elephant is painting nice, beautifully drawn pictures, and spelling people's names! This is not just picking up a can and putting it down. I am fascinated that they can do something no other animal can do, and most people will pay to see that, even if they were slightly prodded by a man.

[@rockethead7]

@@lsmart Do you think that planting cameras is even remotely legal, even in Thailand? Good gods. Get a clue. The trick is done by training the elephants to move their trunks in the direction that the mahout trainer pulls the ear. The elephant has no idea what it's painting. Yes, the elephants spell people's names when they "paint." They do this in every human written language. They write things like "congratulations," and "happy birthday," and anything else you want (pay for). They do this even in oriental languages with thousands of written geometric symbols instead of an alphabet. You write down what you want the elephant to put on the paper, and the mahout uses the elephant's ear like a remote control joystick to put whatever you want (pay for) onto the paper. What don't you understand here? Are you under the impression that elephants know how to read and write in every human language on the planet?

[@lsmart]

@@rockethead7 Look, I don't have time to argue all night with someone who wants to believe in unproven conspiracies. The mahout doesn't even touch the elephant other than putting a brush in his trunk, yet it paints clouds laid over each other in different colors. That is not just doing remote control work. This elephant has seen these pictures and learns how to repeat them, and the same with the names. And don't sell me the nonsense that the Thailand govt. controls this like some nuclear secrets. These are private individuals, not the Thailand govt. If the workers saw brutalization of the elephants, they could easily get a secret video while they were working. If I see that, I'll believe it. Otherwise, it's no different than all the crazy conspiracies the Trumpists spread each day, like there was "evidence" that Pelosi's attacker really was a prostitute in underwear. I don't believe accusations w/o evidence, esp. when it is easy to get the evidence.

[@rockethead7]

You also apparently didn't read what wrote. Bravo.

[@yuviaroyal5200]

This is abuse

[@bhaktaskitchen3510]

It's called talent Not abuse

[@paste8213]

You do not need to abuse elephants to train in painting, this i in thailand they have laws for this, this elephant is drawing with a pinch trainer which mean it was taught the traditional non harming way

[@tgrlilly]

@@paste8213 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@tgrlilly]

@@bhaktaskitchen3510 kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qiKGYe9VmY5o

[@mohammedaman6315]

When someone does an extraordinary performance, the whole crowd Stands for that person n gives a standing ovation. Why don’t we also contemplate on the universe, signs like the blooming flowers, the ants carrying weight times more than their body, bees with honey, development of an egg, oceans in full control, food we get, gigantic objects...countless signs? And THATs one of the reasons Muslims stand together in a congregation give a standing ovation to God the beautiful Creator of the heavens and earth, they say “Allahu Akbar”. God is the greatest. Glorify God every breath. SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi. God questions through the Quran by offering His Friendship to mankind especially to the ones who run away from Allah : “what deluded you from your Lord, the Karim?” (82,6) Did He close the doors of sustenance for you while you ignore Him, while you transgress? Return to Allah well pleased before death turns you to Him.

[@rosalindkover9341]

i like your reply.......beautiful thoughts about the beauty God gives u s.....an elephant is beautiful in the wild where he belongs and is happy i am sure....not painting to please tourists...i am not a muslim but i do give glory and thanks to God for the beautiful things he provides for us in the natural world....many blessings...and love to you...rosalind