Elephant Tours at Amer Fort — Time to Step Back?
When you imagine the grandeur of Rajasthan’s Amer Fort, you picture regal courtyards, ornate palaces, and maybe, for some adventurous souls, a ride on an elephant’s back. But a recent report reveals that many of those majestic beasts are far from healthy, raising serious questions about the practice.
What the Investigation Showed
- Blindness and Vision Problems – 19 out of the 102 elephants used for tourism turns out to be blind or severely impaired in their sight.
- Confronting Tuberculosis – A worrying nine elephants were diagnosed with TB, the dreaded disease that can sneak from human to animal.
- Other Health Woes – Nearly every elephant examined displayed signs of psychological distress, bruised footpads, or other ailments.
Tourism’s Elephant-tickles
Every year, tens of thousands of tourists flock to the hilltop fortress, with some opting to “experience” the gate in a way that’s more elephant than experience. The statistic‑quick visual of an animal in distress isn’t exactly the light‑hearted Instagram moment many hopes for.
— And That’s No Drill — What’s Next?
Local wildlife advocates and the government’s Animal Welfare Board of India are urging for a hard stop to this practice. The goal: give the elephants the life they deserve—without a tourist menu or a passport stamped by a carousel ride.
That’s the big picture: a call for compassion and a push toward more humane tourism solutions. Let’s hope the news of the “Tourist Elephant Crisis” sparks the change the animals need.
Shocking Elephant Adventure: A Safari Gone Wrong
Why These Ride‑Me‑By Trips Should Be Left Behind
Imagine a safari where the main attraction is a blind, TB‑infected elephant hauling loads that would make a truck driver blush, all for the thrill of tourists. That’s the reality behind the recent eye‑opening report that has PETA India stepping in.
What the survey found? Handlers were overloading these majestic animals far beyond the safe limits, turning a ‘jolly ride’ into a slippery slope for both the elephants and visitors.
- Missing Tusks: 47 elephants walled off with no ivory, suggesting those precious tusks were probably snatched by shady traders.
- Unofficial Ownership: While the elephants are kept by private owners, they are officially registered by the government.
- Snappy Stats: More than 100 elephants were officially logged in 2017, yet crowds keep bringing in new herd members from beyond Rajasthan during the tourist rush.
PETA’s Nikunj Sharma put it bluntly: “Shocking reports of blind and TB‑infected elephants forced to haul illegal, back‑breaking loads day in and day out are exactly why these rides must stop.” So next time you’re planning a safari, think – maybe let’s keep the elephants on straight and narrow tracks, not carnival rides!
