They increased from an estimated 3,000 in 2018 to more than 4,400 in March 2023, according to the latest survey. But the expansion in numbers has also resulted in more human deaths. In the same period, 137 people were killed by elephants across Thailand.

Tangkahan Elephant Sanctuary They use howdahs for transporting multiple tourists on the elephant's backs and there are reports that the elephants are forced to perform tricks and lie down in the water so tourists can bathe them.

Of course, this can cause an injury in its own right. With a potentially stressed, three-tonne elephant nearby, this is something you very much want to avoid! All things considered, elephants do not want to be bathed by humans, and humans shouldn't bathe elephants.

Are elephants treated well in Thailand? Unfortunately, no. We assessed 3837 elephants in 357 venues across Asia and found that 63% were living in severely inadequate conditions. When not performing, they were restrained by short chains in noisy, dirty conditions, had poor diets, and received very limited medical care.