Island Safari Tours

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About Island Safari Tours

The experience of seeing elephants in captivity can be a heart-wrenching one. It is particularly distressing to see these majestic creatures being used for rides, a practice that is known to cause harm to their backs. The sight of elephants being chained and used to carry tourists can be a deeply unsettling one, especially for those who are aware of the physical damage this can cause. It is not uncommon for visitors to leave with a heavy heart, vowing never to support organizations that offer elephant riding.

However, not all experiences are negative. Some visitors have had positive encounters, where they have seen animals being treated well and cared for. In these instances, the elephants are not chained but have an area to walk around in. They are provided with shade and appear healthy. The guides are often knowledgeable and educate visitors about the cost of maintaining these animals, emphasizing that their well-being is a top priority. The monkeys, too, are rewarded with food and have areas for shade. Some visitors have even compared the treatment of these animals to how horses are treated in the USA. The affordability of these tours and the surprisingly good quality of the food served at lunch are added bonuses.

However, there are also instances where the experience falls far short of expectations. Some visitors have reported being disappointed with the elephant trekking, which was shorter than advertised and took place in a grim, smelly patch of land that was far from the promised jungle setting. There have been reports of elephants being treated poorly, with tour guides hitting them with metal poles. Some elephants have been seen with cigarette burns on their heads, and others have been chained up with no room to move. The conditions for the monkeys used in shows have also been criticized. The safari tours around Koh Samui have been described as long and boring, with the waterfall being a disappointment. There have also been concerns about the treatment of tigers and leopards, which appeared to be heavily drugged and chained up.

There have been instances where visitors have felt cheated and mistreated. Some have reported being sold trekking options that were not as advertised, with the trek being shorter and more dangerous than expected. There have also been reports of verbal abuse from employees and management, with visitors having to stand their ground to get a refund. Some have even threatened to call the tourist police.

There have been instances where visitors have been taken to animal shows without their knowledge or consent. In these cases, the sight of a small elephant tethered by the front foot in a small enclosure, swaying back and forth in distress, has been deeply upsetting. Some visitors have asked to be taken back to their hotels, refusing to support such animal cruelty.

The treatment of the elephants has been a major concern for many visitors. The sight of elephants being chained up with little room to move, bearing red marks from being beaten with bull hooks, is a horrific one. It is a stark reminder that riding these elephants or watching the shows is promoting animal cruelty.

Despite the negative experiences, there have been visitors who have enjoyed their time. They have found the experience of riding an elephant through the jungle to be an excellent one, worth both their time and money. However, it is important to remember that each experience is unique and can vary greatly depending on the circumstances.