National Geographic Creativeさんのインスタグラム写真 - (National Geographic CreativeInstagram)「Photos by @amandamustard / In early September, nearly 200 elephants in Surin, Thailand’s ‘elephant capital’, traveled by foot from around Baan Na Klang to the local elephant hospital for an annual medical checkup. Measurements and various samples were taken from each elephant, and supplements and medications were given for the elephants’ health. If any elephants were unable to travel due to sickness or being in musth (a period when the males are ‘in heat’, causing a dangerous spike in testosterone that requires them to be separated from other elephants and people), the vets went directly to the homes to perform the checkups. Thailand has an estimated 3800 elephants, many of which were born and raised in captivity. Unfortunately, due to the lack of land and other dangers posed by human development, it is rarely a realistic or safe option to rewild the elephants, creating a need for them to be in the custody of humans for their lifetimes. Tourism is the main source of income to sustain the elephants, and amid the pandemic, this revenue has almost disappeared. (Thailand’s elephant tourism industry is sustained only through constant breeding of its captive population.) In Surin, the Elephant Kingdom Project is one of the only elephant support programs of its kind in Thailand, providing monthly stipends, food, and health support to 200 registered elephants so that owners don’t turn to forms of income that risk the elephants’ welfare, such as street begging or illegal logging. In Surin and elsewhere in the country, harsh methods—bullhooks and chains—are used to train and control elephants.」10月28日 2時43分