Be kind to elephants

Re: “Don’t ride elephants”, (PostBag, March 25) and “Pattaya honours elephants as part of their heritage”, (BP, March 14).

Riding elephants is not honouring them. When they are trained to be submissive for riding and circus performances, there is a cruel process called “broken spirit”, or phajaan in Thai, which means “breaking the love between” (referring to the love between a baby elephant and his or her mother).

Still-nursing baby elephants are roped around their four legs, dragged away from their mothers and immobilised in cages. Further on, they’re punished every time they try to be instinctive and natural in their behaviour until their spirits are broken finally, and they become obedient.

What everyone can do is refuse to support the elephant riding and circus industries.

NUNTANIT BUMRUNGSAP