A popular tourist activity in many holiday resorts in Asia and Africa is riding elephants. But animal protection activists advise against it, not only for the creature’s sake, but also because of the danger of humans becoming infected if the elephant is sick.
The animal protection group PETA cites a 2018 report from the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI which showed that elephants ill with tuberculosis were being used for rides at Amber Fort just outside the city of Jaipur. PETA advises people to avoid contact with the animals and if possible even to avoid the area in question altogether.
At Amber Fort, 10 elephants had tested positive for tuberculosis.
Additionally, all the animals had problems with their feet, and some had vision problems and were forced to carry too heavy a load.
Local media reports said that on the order of the authorities, all the tuberculosis-infected elephants were no longer being used for rides. Amber Fort is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the state of Rajasthan. The fort is situated atop a hill, and elephants usually bring the tourists up, though the trail’s walkable. – dpa
