Tour operators, travel agencies, resorts and elephant handlers around Asia offer tourists the “exciting” opportunity to ride an elephant . Many say it is the “green way” to experience nature and spot wildlife. However, this is far from ideal as these elephants are kept in miserable conditions in order to work for tourists. Many have complained in online forums that the elephants were mistreated and beaten during the ride, or that they felt very guilty because they saw the elephants tightly chained afterwards. Most wish they had known before about the issue.

You can put your compassion into action. Here are the most appropriate ways to interact with elephants in captivity.