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UPDATE Much-Praised Phuket Beach Club Faces Elephant Facebook Questions
Friday, March 27, 2015
NIKKI has released a statement: ''Elephants are a highly respected and regarded symbol of Thailand. As a global company, Nikki beach respects every country's culture and traditions and as such, we fall into the normal behaviors in usage of elephants to represent their culture. We never intended to be disrespectful and/or offend anyone.''
PHUKET: Nikki Beach Club at Layan, a favorite with people on Phuket who prefer music to the silence at a nearby national park, is facing criticism over the use of juvenile elephants to entertain partying guests.
Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand began the debate on Facebook by questioning the use of animals in the context of Nikki's indulgent atmosphere.
The intention of the campaign appears to be to dissuade Nikki from using elephants in future. Photographs show people riding an elephant on boardwalks close to a swimming pool.
The WFFT site and its message has yet to draw a formal response from Nikki Beach Club, although the WFFT says photos have been taken down from the beach club's Facebook page.
The WFFT message reads: ''Over the last 24 hours pictures of lavish parties with baby elephants and lots of drunk people have gone viral on Twitter and Facebook.
''While on twitter a lively discussion went on, the resort in question "Nikki Beach Phuket" quickly deleted all photos with the elephants, but we were able to save them before that happened.
''Our question now is; What do you think of this? Do you think it is ok to use these young elephants for parties like this, is this legal and/or right? Do you too feel tourists should know better? We would love to hear your views so we can contact Nikki Beach and let them know your opinion. Please share!''
It is not clear how the WFFT can tell people are drunk from looking at photographs. There is no suggestion that Nikki Beach Club has acted illegally but propriety appears to be an issue.
Just this week, a reviewer in a local tabloid praised the Sunday brunch at Nikki, writing about it in glowing terms.
''Before I could get up from my table, though, there was the roaring of an engine. Suddenly, a man on a gleaming black motorcycle zoomed through the restaurant, with a stunning woman riding pillion and holding a giant - for lack of a better word - bottle of champagne, which had sparklers attached to the top.
''So, just when I thought the Sunday brunch couldn't get more unique, I was proven wrong.
''At Nikki Beach Club, the fabulous culinary start to the day was only the beginning - the party was just getting started. No matter what you want from your day - relaxation, family time, a party with friends - Nikki Beach has it. And they deliver it with class, style and taste.''
No prices were mentioned. It was not made clear who paid for brunch.
Juvenile elephants are used all over Phuket at resorts, restaurants and retail outlets to attract customers.
Debate about use of elephants in tourism in Thailand has intensified recently because of alleged cruelty in the breaking-in process.
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Comments
Comments have been disabled for this article.
Any use of animals to make profit and not for the welfare of the animal, is wrong.
Posted by
Tbs
on
March 27, 2015 11:17
Though I understand the need for awareness among tourists, what I don't subscribe to is how tourists are being blamed for whatever ill-doing takes place at destination connected to tourism.
Tourists visit for a short period of time and make use of services provided.
The finger should point at the local tourism operators and authorities who provide those services and/or approve/ fail to supervise them.
They are the ones who live here and are empowered to decide what is and what is not offered to tourists.
If authorities allow illegal or unethical services to be offered, do not blame the tourists for using them.
For someone coming from a developed nation it will be mindboggling to be told afterwards that services offered openly and aggressively are actually illegal.
Take Jet-Ski riding by someone not holding a Thai captain's license.
There are many ethical and legal ways to provide interaction between non-domesticated animals and tourists. A visitor to Nikki BC may rightfully assume such criteria is being adhered to.
Asking Nikki for clarification is correct, but should include putting the authorities on the spot, too. Pointing the finger at the tourists there is not.
Posted by
Herbert
on
March 27, 2015 11:46
(moderated)
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 27, 2015 12:12
Editor Comment:
Your comment has been cut because it is anonymous and you make allegations that cannot be sustained. I repeat, it is not possible to tell from a photograph whether the person in the photograph is drunk. For all you know, it could be the champagne drinker's first sip. We believe that Nikki Beach Club's policy would be to discourage customers from drinking to excess. In any case, elephants are the issue.
Any use of animals, never mind or it are beach clubs or Bangla Rd is disgusting. Thai authorities should catch up with more international thinking of the miss -use of animals. The fines are to low. Exploitation of animals should be punished heavily. Fine of 50,000 thb or 3 months in the monkey house. Than all this is over, for sure on Bangla Rd.
Posted by
Kurt
on
March 27, 2015 12:34
"class, style and taste". Whatever the opposites of those words are, then those are what I would apply to Nikki Beach. There is so little class, style and taste to the joint.
Fantastic journalism PW - so easy to have jumped on the bandwagon on this story and you stuck to the facts at hand and reported fairly. Hats off.
Posted by
Duncan
on
March 27, 2015 13:28
@ Tbs... a pretty wide-sweeping comment. Thoughts on pets? While not kept for financial profit, they are certainly "kept" for personal gain (happiness/ friendship/ companionship etc.) and the pet has little choice in the matter.
Where do you draw the line?
I don't condone elephant tourism in this sense, but I believe a domesticated elephant such as this is considered chattel in law. Meaning, it is the property of the owner. Much like a pet, house, car. This was certainly the case in the past... I could be wrong, but I think legally the argument might have few legs to stand on.
Now ethically... plenty of legs there!
Posted by
Duncan
on
March 27, 2015 13:35
Further along the beach the Angsana etc have had elephants perform and let people (of all ages and in all states of inebriation) ride them, on the grounds and out front on the beach. For years and years. What's the difference? (Anyway didn't you do a glowing puff piece on the Angsana elephan recently?)
Posted by
dresser
on
March 27, 2015 13:39
Editor Comment:
We have't visited Angsana for a couple of years, dresser. Maybe even three years. Ten years ago we swam with a couple of Laguna elephants on Bang Tao beach - an unforgettable experience. Please send us the link to the ''glowing puff piece.'' You may have us confused with some other publication.
Baby elephants are hired all the time by wedding planners and resorts, will the WFFT be getting to them as well? And before you ask for proof if we could attached pictures I would.
Posted by
John Holmes
on
March 27, 2015 14:07
Editor Comment:
The article mentions that juvenile elephants are used by resorts, restaurants and retail outlets all over Phuket. Photos are not necessary. Is there a point you wanted to make, John?
Angsana juvenile elephants are on the beach,near the beach: "Angsana Phuket's cheerful baby elephant, Namchock", why to single out Nikki beach club?
Seems that some people don't like high prices or music noise there, but channel complaint via "elephant complaint channel".
Posted by
Sue
on
March 27, 2015 14:51
Editor Comment:
No point in guesswork about motivation, Sue.
Ed - Here is the link you requested
http://phuketwan.com/tourism/phuket-video-baby-phuket-elephant-enjoys-sea-first-time-18260/
As well as "frolicking" the elephants also pose for pictures for money, and the older one takes kids and drunks for rides for a price, or for tips.
Posted by
dresser
on
March 27, 2015 15:50
Editor Comment:
(Anyway didn't you do a glowing puff piece on the Angsana elephan recently?)
No, there's no glowing puffery there. But we did pick up and report a harmless bit of fun from YouTube. Readers can judge for themselves.
Is there some point you are trying to make, dresser? If so, you probably should complain direct to the resort management or authorities. Trying to beat up the media is foolish and unproductive.
@ sue the difference between a baby elephant walking on a beach and a baby elephant on a pool side boardwalk to me seems obvious.. i'm sure the WFFT have no concerns about noise other than it might not be a suitable environment for the raising of a juvenile elephant.. and it was mikki beach club who drew attention to themselves by posting the pics on their own facebook page..
Posted by
another steve
on
March 27, 2015 16:30
Appalled to see these elephants being used this way for mankinds entertainment. Do the right thing and stop it now and let the elephants go to somewhere safe to be with their own kind.
Posted by
Shirley
on
March 27, 2015 17:23
Wild animals are exactly that, WILD. NOT for amusing tourists.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 27, 2015 17:36
That part of layan was peace and quiet and now is the best example of spoiling a beach. If you visit a beach you not want to be forced to listen to boum boum boum music. That they make music for there customers ok, but they should respect the neighbours and beach visitors who want to enjoy peace and quiet. I hope they shut down that place soon, its a scandal! Nikki beach should move to another location .
Posted by
Eric
on
March 27, 2015 20:33
The use of any animal for profit is disgusting. you guys need to see what these baby elephants go through...wreched from their mothers and then conditioned by human hand to obey. I don't have to justify this you can google it for yourselves..we all know it..you know it toi...it's abuse of a living feeling creature...shame on you.if you try to justify or deny this its pathetic .
Posted by
t ray
on
March 28, 2015 04:04
(moderated)
Posted by
Sara
on
March 28, 2015 04:32
Editor Comment:
We're proponents of change, Sara, but not CAPITAL LETTERS. Please don't shout.
What is disturbing about the photos is that the baby elephants are ridden, that their eyes appear to show fear in some of the photos, and that the use of elephants in this manner teaches the guests that these are just like disposable toys instead of the highly intelligent creatures. From the photos, the young age of the elephants indicates that they were removed from their mothers and family herds--which is also stressful. This is not natural elephant behavior, so the guests are being taught the wrong thing about how to treat endangered species. Why is that necessary to use elephants in this manner?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 28, 2015 08:20
Editor Comment:
Oh, not only can you tell whether a person is drunk from a still photo, it's also possible to discern fear (not just surprise) in the eyes of an elephant. Guesswork and false accusations make more enemies of animal rights activists than friends, anonymous.
Oh mr.ed how I love you and the way you like to control the comment section. Keep up the great tabloid work that you are doing. Any more new on one direction? have they been riding elephants?
Posted by
John Holmes
on
March 28, 2015 08:26
Editor Comment:
We certainly oblige commenters to stick with the facts, JH. Your reaction indicates we're doing a good job keeping zealots and exaggerators at bay.
Dear Ed; Thank you for assuming that it was guesswork, not experience in seeing fear in the baby elephants' eyes in some photos. What exactly is your experience relative to elephants, baby or otherwise? Have you studied them in the wild, or just at wild parties?
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 28, 2015 09:38
Editor Comment:
My experience is not the issue: your guesswork is. We have no problem with zealots, provided they stick with the facts.
When baby elephants show the whites of their eyes when people start climbing on them it's definitely fear not surprise as the editor claims, saw it at a elephant park in Chang Mai, definitely fear, once people stopped climbing on it because of protests by tourists it settled down and was happy to be fed and patted
Posted by
peter allen
on
March 28, 2015 11:15
Editor Comment:
The editor doesn't claim anything of the kind but it's plain everyone is an ''expert'' in elephant behavior. Here we have peter allen, who knows everything about elephants from one encounter. Do elephants laugh, peter? I certainly am.
Can't really address you as an editor, because no editor worth their salt would take a position or name-call. Nor as a journalist because you haven't provided your name. Apparently anyone who can see pain or fear or happiness or joy in an animal's eyes is a zealot. Not guesswork, just knowledge and experience with animals. Sorry for you at this point, that you can't look in an elephant's eyes and see what s/he is feeling.
Posted by
Anonymous
on
March 28, 2015 11:22
Editor Comment:
Anonymous people with the word 'elephant' in their email address are clearly more knowledgeable than the rest of us. Who needs hands-on experience when you can tell everything about elephant behavior from photos? I would suggest that a real expert will tell you that elephants widen their eyes for all sorts of reasons. Putting that in context is what makes them real experts and you a zealot.
Any type of animal be they elephants, sheep, horses etc show the whites of their eyes when frightened by the way they are handled.
IT they did not lock the mother elephants away while using the young one's to entertain people it would be the people showing the whites of their eye's when the mother elephants protected their young, I certainly know more about how animal's react to people than Alan Morison ever will, having worked on farms and stations in Australia
Posted by
peter allen
on
March 28, 2015 11:56
Editor Comment:
Eyes widening is an expression of surprise, even in human animals. It can also be fear but that depends on the context. Not all animals are the same, as George Orwell and Charles Darwin recognised. And as for my experience with animals, how would you know? Just more wishful guesswork, without real knowledge.
controversial issue but I know this much there's nothing sadder than a out of work domesticated elephant putting them on the unemployment list is not the solution in a knee jerk reaction absolutely they are not party animals and in a inappropriate atmosphere on this occasion.
Posted by
slickmelb
on
March 28, 2015 16:00
Tourists bring the money. All the while they buy into this it will continue. They are the drivers of change. This needs to stop and tourists can make that happen by rejecting this so called fun and entertainment.
Posted by
PJ
on
March 28, 2015 16:04
Unfortunately the lack of understanding the natural behavior of animals and the increased desire to want to be near a "wild" animal is at the center of the issue. Tourists can not be expected to understand that the baby elephant has been captured and tortured so that it can now be used to make money. The people who have captured and tortured the baby unfortunately lack in both education and empathy to understand that elephant are highly social, emotional beings. So who should be responsible for all this abuse and how can it stop? I believe it is important that all business owners become educated about the use of elephants and educate their staff. Once their is better understanding of what is involved in "training" a elephant to work hopefully no one will want to be a part of this and elephants will no longer be tortured! Tourists are responsible as well as learning about the issues--going to a foreign country doesn't mean you get a free ride! As a tourist you need to know about the local culture--if for no other reason as to not insult people. Unfortunately, there are those who travel just for their own fun, never looking around and seeing the poverty or injustice in the world--only seeing the the resorts in which the only local people they meet are cleaning up after them or serving drinks!
Elephants, tigers, bears, etc do not ask to become a prop or a pet, they are wild animals who want to be with their own kind. They are NOT dogs and cats who are domesticated and who seek humans--the difference, we seek the wild animals for ourselves! Please think about this as you travel and as you look at other animals!
Posted by
Arlene Gardsbane
on
March 28, 2015 19:51
Editor Comment:
Indeed. I don't expect elephants to reappear at Nikki and it's places like Nikki that really have the power to reach fun lovers who are sometimes less interested in the abuses taking place in the world around them than they should be. I suggest you contact Nikki directly and suggest they play a more active role in educating their guests about abuses in Thailand and elsewhere.
"I don't expect elephants to reappear at Nikki I suggest you contact Nikki directly and suggest they play a more active role in educating their guests about abuses in Thailand and elsewhere."
Ed - nobody gives a monkey's what you expect that crappy beach club will do. That is no comfort what you expect. 95% of people responding to your story do not agree with your perspective. Why don't YOU contact Nikki Beach and , as an investigative reporter, rather than just a passive sedentary newshound, tell them about the feedback you have had above, especially comments similar to Arlene's and put the wind up them. Instead of arguing and belittling your readers and telling them you know best what the message in an abused elephant's eyes is? Pathetic reporting and feedback, yet again.
Posted by
dresser
on
March 28, 2015 21:04
Editor Comment:
I don't care what your opinion is, dresser, it has no value. You're an anonymous online nobody. The feedback we've seen is mostly manipulated and obvious, extracted from people whose only experience of elephants is in Disney movies. It's an error of judgement by Nikki that's unlikely to be repeated - but a few zealots will try to turn it to your own purposes. Some of the exaggerated reports should probably and deservedly bring lawsuits.
Nikki Beach Sunday brunch is surprisingly good, all items are really fresh and have flavour: it is a big distinction to most of other places on Phuket, where , it seems, vast majority of chef simply doesn't have a tongue. Choice is abundant but no real delicacies and narrow choice of fruits.
Price is 1500THB inclusive of VAT and service charge,food only. This price in my opinion is very good.
Can be credited against bed.
Posted by
Sue
on
March 29, 2015 06:57
I may be an anonymous online nobody, but at least I'm not a notoriously sociopathic online nobody, like yourself.
Posted by
dresser
on
March 29, 2015 08:41
Editor Comment:
You're either an anonymous online nobody with a sense of humor or a deeply disturbed public menace who abuses the privilege of being allowed to comment without an identity and has no understanding of civility or basic obligations. I do hope for your sake it's the former. Four comments, all of them in the crackpot class.
So if someone tells you to get off your arse and do some proper reporting and also stop abusing your readers they are a crackpot?
Posted by
dresser
on
March 29, 2015 19:42
Editor Comment:
People who start their comments with the word ''So . . .'' inevitably have a point of view they wish to ram down everyone's throats, dresser. You are an anonymous crackpot animal activist with a set against Nikki beach. The issue is over. You can get a life now. Our priorities are saving needless deaths on the roads and beaches, halting human trafficking and ending corruption and scams. The condition and placement of my arse is none of your business.
I have nothing against Nikki Beach I simply mentioned that elephant abuse goes on up and down that beach.
Posted by
dresser
on
March 29, 2015 20:29
Editor Comment:
It's a sign that people on Phuket have lost the lot to consider that what happens to elephants on the beaches is ''abuse.'' Chaining of young elephants for long periods is obviously abuse. The terrifying breaking of young elephants is obviously abuse. The petting of small elephants by children I would not regard as abuse. The more general argument about whether elephants should be kept in captivity has a way to run in Thailand. If your beliefs are sincere and you're not a zealot or a dabbler, I suggest you find more meaningful way of contributing to the issue. If you truly believe what happens on Phuket's beaches is ''abuse,'' I suggest you write letters and make telephone calls to the holiday brands who are the ''abusers.'' Trying to goad the media into doing it for you isn't going to work. As I've said, the best way to implement change is to make agents for change out of Nikki beach and others with large followings of people looking for fun. The world is turning against the use of wild animals for fun. But millions of people still need to get the message.
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Any use of animals to make profit and not for the welfare of the animal, is wrong.
Posted by Tbs on March 27, 2015 11:17