Elephants are the largest land species in the world. The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is the largest of all mammals in Nepal. Due to having excellent memory and longer lifespan with social habit, they are favorite of human population. Chitwan National Park, Bardiya National Park and Parsa Wildlife Reserve are the main habitat of wild elephants while domesticated elephants are under captive situation in different parts. Population in wild form is about 100-170 and about 170-200 are under captive form.  Being a dominated wildlife species, elephants play major role in maintaining ecosystem biodiversity and tourism in national parks and buffer zones of Nepal.Also, Elephants have long been part of Nepalese culture and tradition and play an important role in religious (mainly Hindu) beliefs.

There is a great role of elephants to promote tourism in Nepal. Most of the captive elephants are located in camps based around the National Parks and are used for tourist excursions. We can find elephants predominantly at Chitwan National Park and in other conservation parks like Bardiya. In Chitwan, elephants can be hired out for one hour jungle safaris and for 20 minutes elephant baths twice per day. In other national parks they are used for conservation and breeding. Besides Hatti Polo(elephant game)is also the attractive part.

While talking about beneficial part of elephant tourism we cannot deny ethical considerations and cruelty in it. Physical harm to the elephants for restrain and proper guide is a common misbehave against captive elephants. Elephant polo  the game has been targeted by animal rights campaigners, led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The controversy regards the use of a bull-hook to direct the elephants. It is a sharp steel hook used to prod the elephant into obeying its mahout’s instructions. Campaigners believe the hooks cause open wounds, which become infected and cause the elephants great pain and discomfort.

So, this is time for promoting elephant tourism along with its ethical consideration. I believe there are some ways to be elephant ethical.

·         Follow ethical tourism guidelines

·         Support elephant conservation

·         Protect habitat for wild elephants

·         Don’t support places that exploit elephants for entertainment

·         Don’t buy ivory or other wildlife products

#WorldElephantDay2019

#BeElephantEthical