Why do our mahouts sit on the elephants while bathing?
Bathing time is an imperative moment of bonding between the mahout and their elephant. It’s important that elephants listen closely to their mahouts and understand that they are in control. The mahout’s control over their elephant is a matter of survival, ensuring elephants listen when they need to receive medical treatment or in case of an emergency. If the bond between a mahout and their elephant weakens, it puts the elephant and everyone around them at a much greater risk.
During bathing time, our mahouts also scrub away the mud and dirt on our elephants. It’s part of their daily care routine! The mahout only spends a short time on the elephant’s back which doesn’t cause them discomfort. The trust between an elephant and their mahout is vital to the survival of the elephant and to the safety of visitors.
Did you know being a mahout was one a prestigious role? But over time, mahouts have faced mistreatment and discrimination, receiving low salaries and being put in dangerous situations. Many people misunderstand their purpose and view mahouts as cruel and dominating.
To remain a hands-off elephant sanctuary, where our elephants can roam without restrictions and visitors can observe them from nearby, the role of a mahout is essential. We see our mahouts as the heroes they are.
Explore the crucial role mahouts play in the survival of elephants and learn more about the challenges they face in the elephant tourism industry. Uncover how building trust and respect can enhance the well-being of elephants and mahouts alike.
Understanding the role of mahouts
A mahout is a traditional elephant caretaker, essential for the survival and well-being of elephants in sanctuaries. Sadly, this once-prestigious role is now increasingly disregarded, with many mahouts experiencing exploitation due to the demand for cheap elephant tourism.
The role of a mahout was traditionally passed down generationally, from father to son. Unfortunately, this tradition is dying out and a large number of mahouts today work below minimum wage, with little to no training. Many mahouts are from the Karen hill tribe, one of the largest ethnic minority groups in Thailand. Most mahouts are stateless and have limited work options. For many, becoming a mahout is not their first choice, leaving them exposed to exploitation and dangerous working conditions.
Challenges and exploitation of mahouts
A large number of mahouts continue to face discrimination, with some even having their wages cut if their elephant fails to perform for tourists. The increasing demand from tourists for ‘Instagrammable’ photos of them touching and bathing elephants has only made the job of the mahout more difficult. The low salaries and lack of experience that mahouts at unethical camps are faced with often results in the mistreatment of the elephants and not only endangers the elephants, but also endangers the mahouts. Let’s recognise the crucial role mahouts play in the welfare of elephants and wildlife protection and treat them with respect rather than judgment.
A bond built through trust
Historically, mahouts formed lifelong bonds with their elephants, with this connection starting from a young age and deepening over time. Sadly, the elephant tourism industry is increasingly driven by profit and as a result the strong bond between a mahout and their elephant is fading away. Many unethical sanctuaries hire young and inexperienced mahouts, who are afraid of the elephants in their care, leaving them little time to develop the strong partnership that is essential for the survival of captive elephants.
The unique connection between an elephant and its mahout grows through verbal communication, a deep understanding of one another, and, most importantly, respect. Experienced mahouts will develop this bond by caring for the elephant, ensuring it receives proper nutrition, administering vitamins and performing health check-ups, such as looking for scars or changes in the elephant’s physical appearance during bathing time. Not only does this benefit the physical well-being of the elephant, but it also supports their emotional welfare.
Why our mahouts sit on their elephants
Mahouts play a vital role in maintaining the safety of both visitors and elephants in sanctuaries, it is therefore imperative that our elephants trust and listen to their mahouts. One key opportunity for building this trust is during bathing time, which is essential for the well-being of captive elephants.
Bathing time allows mahouts to establish authority over their elephant, creating a strong bond which will make the elephant more receptive to medical treatment and ensure they will listen to their mahout in case of an emergency. When an elephant understands that its mahout is in charge, it is more likely to respond to commands and cues. This responsiveness is essential not only for routine care but also during crisis situations that require quick decision-making, such as health issues or sudden environmental changes. In these moments, the bond of trust between the mahout and the elephants can make the difference between safety and danger.
For example, in the past, our elephants and longtime best friends, Malee and Kammoon, have had to visit the wildlife hospital. This requires separating them from each other and transporting them by truck, a process that can understandably cause immense stress. However, due to the deep bond they share with their mahouts, both elephants have remained calm and cooperative, fully trusting their mahouts and following their instructions. Throughout these hospital visits, the mahouts remain by their side, ensuring the experience is as stress-free as possible.
In addition, mahouts can have a huge influence on how receptive elephants are to medical examinations. For example, we perform routine blood tests on our elephants a couple of times a year. This requires the elephant to stand very still while a veterinarian draws blood from a vein in their ear. Previously, Kammoon became very distressed during this process and no one was able to take a blood sample from her, but with her mahout, Pizaa, by her side, it now takes only a few minutes. Our other elephants, Malee and Kam Phaeng, are even more cooperative. Kammoon is also more compliant during her routine ultrasounds, needed to check on her bladder stone, due to her strong trust in Pizaa.
Our elephants have to have complete trust and respect in their mahouts in order for the elephants to roam freely and safely around our hands-off sanctuary and to keep visitors safe. The trust between the pair allows the public to observe the natural behaviours of our elephants safely.
Supporting mahouts for a better future
At Somboon Legacy Foundation, we see mahouts as heroes and we ensure they are treated fairly. We provide above minimum wage, work permits, holidays and social security. These are basic rights that many mahouts don’t have access to. They also receive a risk bonus for working with potentially dangerous animals.
The role of a mahout is vital to elephant conservation. Their deep understanding of elephant behaviour and well-being is crucial for maintaining happy, healthy elephants in ethical sanctuaries. The importance of the bond between an elephant and its mahout cannot be overstated; it is essential that we work together to protect their rights and ensure a positive future for both elephants and their caretakers.