Guest guest Posted July 29, 2009 Report Share Posted July 29, 2009 I need your comments regarding the use of elephant hooks and what are the alternatives to this. This was the result of a complaint by a visitor in the letters to editor page. Thank you for your timeYitze. 'Elephant hooks a standard tool'-New Straits Times 2009/07/29 *By M. Hamzah Jamaludin* *KUANTAN:* Animal handlers at the National Elephants Conservation Centre in Kuala Gandah, Temerloh, only use " gufti " or hooks to control the elephants and not to intentionally hurt them. Defending the manner in which they handled the pachyderms, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said the hooks were used to manage them when they misbehave or refuse to obey orders. In a faxed statement to the New Straits Times branch office here yesterday, it said the gufti was a standard tool used by elephant handlers worldwide, but at the centre it was used sparingly. " It is used not to provoke or hurt the elephants but to control them, especially when there are riders on their backs. " It is a standard practice for the handlers to carry a small gufti that they use to contain the elephants in the presence of visitors. " The gufti doesn't hurt or injure the animals. If they are in any way injured they would be treated immediately, " it said. The statement was a response to allegations of cruel practices by animal handlers at the centre who used " bull hooks " to control the elephants. The allegations appeared in a Letters to the Editor on Monday. It was alleged that an elephant had a wound on its head and that the mahout had tapped the elephant repeatedly on its head with the hook to control it. It also said another baby elephant had flinched when a " staff showed her his fist " which indicated that the fist had been used to cause pain before. " The fist was only a gesture to show that the animal is well-trained. " It should not be perceived that cruelty had been inflicted on it. " As for the elephant which had a wound on its head, the elephant had injured his head during the morning training session and the wound had already been treated. " On the use of short chains, it said the chains were a safety measure and were used only during activity hours with the public to restrain the elephant from reaching out to unsuspecting visitors. The statement also said the picture which appeared in the letter was not of elephants at the centre. " We are always concerned for the welfare of our elephants and the safety of the visitors to the centre. We also welcome suggestions and feedback from the public. " Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 30, 2009 Report Share Posted July 30, 2009 Here is an example of humane elephant training, using positive reinforcement techniques http://www.aebc.com.au/elephants On Wed, Jul 29, 2009 at 11:52 AM, yitzeling <yitzeling wrote: > > > I need your comments regarding the use of elephant hooks and what are the > alternatives to this. This was the result of a complaint by a visitor in > the letters to editor page. Thank you for your timeYitze. > > 'Elephant hooks a standard tool'-New Straits Times > > 2009/07/29 > > *By M. Hamzah Jamaludin* > > *KUANTAN:* Animal handlers at the National Elephants Conservation Centre in > Kuala Gandah, Temerloh, only use " gufti " or hooks to control the elephants > and not to intentionally hurt them. > > Defending the manner in which they handled the pachyderms, the Natural > Resources and Environment Ministry said the hooks were used to manage them > when they misbehave or refuse to obey orders. > > In a faxed statement to the New Straits Times branch office here yesterday, > it said the gufti was a standard tool used by elephant handlers worldwide, > but at the centre it was used sparingly. > > " It is used not to provoke or hurt the elephants but to control them, > especially when there are riders on their backs. > > " It is a standard practice for the handlers to carry a small gufti that > they > use to contain the elephants in the presence of visitors. > > " The gufti doesn't hurt or injure the animals. If they are in any way > injured they would be treated immediately, " it said. > > The statement was a response to allegations of cruel practices by animal > handlers at the centre who used " bull hooks " to control the elephants. The > allegations appeared in a Letters to the Editor on Monday. > > It was alleged that an elephant had a wound on its head and that the mahout > had tapped the elephant repeatedly on its head with the hook to control it. > > It also said another baby elephant had flinched when a " staff showed her > his > fist " which indicated that the fist had been used to cause pain before. > > " The fist was only a gesture to show that the animal is well-trained. > > " It should not be perceived that cruelty had been inflicted on it. > > " As for the elephant which had a wound on its head, the elephant had > injured > his head during the morning training session and the wound had already been > treated. " > > On the use of short chains, it said the chains were a safety measure and > were used only during activity hours with the public to restrain the > elephant from reaching out to unsuspecting visitors. > > The statement also said the picture which appeared in the letter was not of > elephants at the centre. > > " We are always concerned for the welfare of our elephants and the safety of > the visitors to the centre. We also welcome suggestions and feedback from > the public. " > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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