Torture of Baby Elephants

The torture of baby elephants is a dreadful thing. Given the outrage over the guy who killed Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe, I just wish there was more publicity about the torture of baby elephants for the tourist trade in Asia.

Torture Of Baby Elephants

I love elephants and going on the support for the various animal welfare charities who look out for them and the number of Pinterest boards given over to pictures of elephants I guess I am not alone.

Compliance For The Tourist Trade

Some time ago I saw an article on the torture of baby elephants to make them compliant for the tourist trade. The article was part of a campaign by Animals Asia to raise awareness of what was happening.

I am a long time supporter of Animals Asia, they do brilliant work, particularly in relation to rescuing Moon Bears from bile farms and in trying to stop the horrific trade in dog and cat meat. Among other campaigns of course.

Phajaan

Anyway, one of their campaigns was trying to raise awareness of something called the Phajaan and it is incredibly cruel. Basically the baby elephants are tied up and tortured until their will is broken. When I saw this article I was distraught and I couldn’t get the images and descriptions out of my mind. I wrote a poem about it as it was the only way I could cope with my emotions about what I had seen.

FORGIVENESS

As you raise the stick
to hit him again
he flinches
in anticipation of the blow.
Bound, helpless
a baby.
You want to break his spirit
but his soul
will soar forever
whilst yours
will be weighed down
with your actions.

Reincarnation.
Role reversal.
You are tied and helpless
anticipating pain
as he stands over you.
But
he will release your bonds
and love you
for he is compassion.
And you will learn.

(c) Dorothy Berry-Lound
May 2015

We Have A Responsibility For All Beings

I feel very strongly that we have a responsibility to each other and our fellow beings to show respect and compassion even to those who do us harm. I urge you to support the work of charities like Animals Asia who act, where we can only sit and cry. They deserve all the support we can give them.

If you would like to see more about the work of Animals Asia and/or make a donation this is their website:

https://www.animalsasia.org/

Originally published in 2015.

Before you go

My name is Dorothy Berry-Lound an artist and writer. You can find out more about my art and writing at https://dorothyberryloundart.com.

You can follow me on Facebook.

Thank you for reading!