Do animals deserve to be chained to a life of suffering for a few bucks?

Animal cruelty comes in many forms. What is considered to be abuse could mean something different in another setting, depending on a country’s culture and history. This makes it possible for its definition to get blurred in the lines of what is right and wrong. But it shouldn’t be. If an animal, any animal, is forced to do something that it should not be doing, that is animal cruelty. It is as simple as that.

Asia’s Deadly Industry:

Animals in Asia are considered to be the most abused animals in the world. From cats and dogs being slaughtered for their meat to bears being locked in cages for the collection of their bile, the ill-treatment of animals has become widespread and almost acceptable. This is especially true in the tourism industry. People travel from all over to visit Asia and immerse themselves in the diverse simplicity of its culture. Unfortunately, this leads to the exploitation of its animals.

The most abused animal in Asia is the elephant. Cruelty in the elephant industry is rampant but hidden as most tourists do not recognize the brutality of their treatment. You plan a vacation to Thailand and the thought of riding an elephant as one of your tourist experiences— they go hand in hand. What visitors fail to see is how overworked and mistreated these elephants are, having to endure carrying heavy weights in the burning sun. There have been many reports in Vietnam of elephants dying due to being overworked.

What makes it more heartbreaking is that elephants are deep and complex creatures that form bonds with their peers. Elephants experience the same loneliness and grief that people do. They are wise and sociable. Elephants in the wild spend their time playing in the water, socializing with their families and exploring their surroundings. They don’t carry people on their backs for forced labor. The stress, deprivation and lack of appropriate facilities for these elephants cause chronic and painful health issues. As a result, they often die young.