Getting 1 million supporters to sign a petition by Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) to stop UK-based advertising of holiday destinations across SE Asia where elephants are brutally exploited is no easy feat. Learning that it all started five years ago with one man’s dream is even more impressive.
Changing the law in Britain to protect Asian elephants across SE Asia is a big undertaking. It requires more than just willingness or commitment. This is the remarkable story of how a trip to India changed the life of a British lawyer and how it will hopefully change his own country’s desire to help elephants while time remains for the species.
Who is the man behind Save The Asian Elephants?
It was through first-hand experience on this trip to India that Duncan McNair, a prominent British lawyer, saw the cruel and horrific ways in which elephants in tourism were treated. Throughout his visit, he wondered “why are these gentle souls treated in this way?” He found the answer that he sought: extreme brutality made captive elephants submissive and complacent, both traits that made it easier for them to “entertain” tourists. What McNair did not know at that time was how greatly the British public is fueling this demand, without even realizing it.
Every year, hundreds and probably thousands of British tour operators offer packages promoting riding, bathing and “games” with captive elephants. In 2018 alone, over one million British tourists visited India, according to the Indian Ministry of Tourism’s website. Hundreds of thousands of them are believed to have ridden an elephant during their holiday. Some 13 million rides took place in Thailand alone in 2016.
It is in the demand for this cruel type of entertainment that McNair saw a tremendous opportunity: to share his experience and his knowledge of what happens to these majestic beings behind the scenes in order to hugely drive up public awareness.
“I have had to embolden myself to approach people, often of the highest moment, to help STAE’s cause, such as former heads of government, celebrity household names, academics, conservationists, scientists and elephant welfare activists,” he tells me.
The urgent need for change was inevitable.
How was STAE born?
Sign and share STAE’s petition demanding new law to ban unethical tourism ads at https://bit.ly/2DeBvu0
McNair started by sharing the facts and the footage he had gathered during his initial and subsequent trips to India. These trips were always carried risks and proved taxing. For example, witnessing baby elephants chained, screaming and crying as they are beaten and stabbed with poles with a fierce iron spike (the “ankus”) to enforce compliance with an order wasn’t something easy to witness.
“We have experienced dangers in getting ‘behind the scenes’ in some South East Asian countries to expose the horrors for elephants poached from the wild and being “prepared” for tourism,” McNair explained.
After obtaining considerable data, Duncan sought out people of different backgrounds, telling the tragedy of Asia’s tourist elephants and suggesting solutions. The aim was to gain support from as many influential and knowledgeable people as could make a difference, and bring them on board. He succeeded. In 2015, STAE was born.
What has STAE accomplished so far?
Celebrities, politicians and animal welfare activists are among the one million people who have joined STAE’S efforts. Image: Kate on Conservation
Since its foundation STAE has succeeded in raising awareness of the tragedy of the brutal commercial exploitation of captive Asian elephants. It now draws support from across the world. The latest independent poll shows 90% of Britons want an immediate end to such brutality in tourism. 79% want new law now as presented by STAE. STAE has also:
Presented a Proposal for new legislation to the British Parliament
STAE’s ongoing campaign to urge India’s Prime Minister to end the horrendous ritual by which the elephant’s spirit is broken and to ensure genuine sanctuaries only for this highly endangered species has been signed by over 1M supporters. With enormous levels of public support gained very quickly, STAE was invited by the relevant British Government minister, Lord Zac Goldsmith, to provide draft legislation, which it duly did.
Held High Level Meetings with the European Parliament
Duncan has presented STAE’s ever growing campaign and policies for change at the European Parliament as well as at the UK’s Westminster Parliament and to numerous other public and specialist groups including politicians, religious leaders, veterinarians, scientists, conservationists, lawyers and media outlets. STAE’s supporters include many celebrities and influential patrons.
On one of McNair’s trips he was joined by famous Harry Potter actress, Evanna Lynch, and the popular newspaper, The Sun, to expose the horrific treatment of tourist elephants in India, on another by the mighty Mail on Sunday whose expose elicited enormous outrage and dismay.
Carried Out a Massive Campaign to Stop Elephant Rides with Over 3M supporters
In August 2018 STAE presented 3.1 million petition signatures to the then Prime Minister, Theresa May, demanding a new law to ban unethical related Asian elephant related advertisements.
Held High Level Meetings with the Indian Ministry of Tourism
Duncan McNair met with India’s Minister of Tourism in Delhi to express STAE’s concern at the way elephants are treated by the tourist industry and proposed humane ways for people to interact with them.
Each one of us can help initiatives like STAE’s come closer to success. Elephants need us! Please sign and share.
Why Should We Support STAE’s Work?
At STAE , none of its members - including its founder - receive any monetary compensation for their work. They’re all volunteers and their campaigning and activities rely solely on public donations. Their aim is to inform people that there are other ways to see elephants which respect their happiness, safety and wellbeing. (Read their list of comprehensive proposals here.)
STAE’s most immediate goal is new UK legislation to ban the advertising, promotion and sale of unethical venues in the Asian elephants’ home states. STAE strongly backs genuine sanctuaries only, as discussed below.
No longer should large elements of the travel industry promote resorts known to use torture on elephants but exposing their customers to the regular and often fatal attacks by abused elephants on tourists, and who also transmit deadly airborne viruses like TB to humans - another horror suppressed by the industry.
Two years ago, I became a monthly donor to STAE . It was from my personal involvement in this cause that I knew how extremely important it was to support their work. Thanks to their relentless efforts, they have been able not only to expose the horrors of the elephant trade, but also to propose a new way of relating to elephants: by encouraging the Indian government to turn those infamous facilities into genuine ethical venues where humane treatment of elephants is ensured. (Read more about why I support STAE here.)
Why Should We Care About Asian Elephants?
Sharp hook (ankus) widely used to beat and torture elephants to make them compliant. Image: STAE
Very often we hear news about the appalling African elephant poaching crisis, an unfortunate global issue that has thankfully gained much attention and support in recent years. However, we rarely hear of the tragic plight of Asian elephants. With only 30,000 - 50,000 left (15,000 in captivity), Asian elephants numbers are below one-tenth of those of African elephants according to the International Elephant Foundation. (Read fact sheet here)
As stated by LiveKindly, the troubles Asian elephants undergo are man-made. These include: habitat loss, poaching for abusive commercial exploitation, human-wildlife conflict and disease transmission from humans (like tuberculosis). With this in mind, we should all be worried - and involved - in helping this highly intelligent, sensible species. (Read my blog post What is Happening to Asia’s Elephants?)
After COVID, is There a New Way Way We Can Relate to Elephants?
Did you know? Asian elephants are even more endangered than their African peers. Poaching for tourist entertainment is fueling their decline. Image: Jessica Knowlden (Unsplash)
It is clear that COVID-19 has brought unprecedented challenges to people and captive wildlife. As a result of the pandemic, hundreds of elephants are unemployed and starving as tourists are not traveling to Asia, as they once did. So, is this an opportunity to make things better for elephants?
McNair explains: “Absolutely so. Asian elephants are typically brutalised into submission by the grossest torture, to be readily compliant in tourism. They are held in unsanitary and highly dangerous conditions that are a perfect storm for transmission between them and tourists of Covid-19, just as they proved to be highly effective zoonotic transmitters of the world’s greatest deadly airborne viruses such as tuberculosis.”
“So aside from the extreme animal cruelty, the continuation of brutally unethical Asian elephant related tourism (tragically as promoted by hundreds and probably thousands of UK tour companies) is an enormous public health danger too.”
Elephants across Asia are taken from the wild to be brutally tamed to work for tourists. They spend long years chained, neglected and abused. Image: Louis Wood
“The new way must be genuine sanctuaries only where elephants are observed from a distance respectful to them and safe for humans where they can exhibit their natural behaviour in herd environments in as natural an environment as possible consistent with security.”
“This is utterly what STAE stands for and we are making progress with elements of the travel industry. Some excellent examples exist. This ethical tourism must be the future for Asian elephants. It is reflected in the Asian Elephants (Tourism) Bill that Government requested from STAE.”
Ready to Start Helping Asian Elephants?
If you want to do something for elephants and don’t know where to start, email STAE at savetheasianelephants@stae.org or call Duncan McNair on +44 07852 416696.
“Anyone wanting to help the Asian elephants is a friend of STAEs and we will willingly give them our time, support and encouragement.” — Duncan McNair
Take Action Today! Here’s How:
Sign and share STAE’s petition demanding new law to ban unethical tourism ads at https://bit.ly/2DeBvu0
Visit http://stae.org/help-us/10/. If a UK resident, cut and paste letters at STAE – Write to Your MP and at STAE – Write to the relevant UK Government Minister, Lord Goldsmith
Tell your friends and follow STAE on Social Media!
Click on each link and connect with them today.
Facebook - Save The Asian Elephants
Twitter - @stae_elephants
Instagram stae_elephants
The inspiration behind The Elephant Soul is a deep love and concern for Asian elephants, particularly those living in captivity. It has been an honor to feature Duncan McNair, STAE’s founder and CEO on this article.
Thank you all for being here and for adding your voice to help these precious animals!
Namaste.
Di
Duncan McNair’s work on Animal Welfare
Duncan McNair has worked pro bono for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) for several years. He chaired the National Inquiry and Review into Farmed Animal Welfare Standards under RSPCA’s Freedom Food Scheme, which became known as ‘the McNair Report’. It was adopted by the full governance of RSPCA in 2013 and became the basis of RSPCA Assured.
In 2018 McNair was named Winner of the Animal Hero of the Year award at the Animal Star Awards, which attracted 850 entrants nationally.
He is a regular guest at the British All-Party Parliamentary Groups on Animal Welfare and on Endangered Species.
“Time seems such a scarce commodity and I am so aware that time is ticking down for the Asian elephants.”