Elephant Riding: Fact or Fear-Mongering?

The debate surrounding elephant riding has intensified recently, particularly in Thailand and India, where it's a popular tourist activity. Critics, including many animal rights organizations, claim that riding elephants causes significant harm to their spines. However, Silkelephant44, a federally licensed exotic animal owner from the US, challenges this claim in a recent TikTok video. She argues that the differences in spine curvature between Asian and African elephants are natural and not caused by human interaction. She supports her argument by showing a side-by-side comparison of the skeletons of both species. "It does not hurt an elephant's spine to ride them," she asserts in the video. Her video also criticizes animal rights organizations for spreading misinformation and using emotionally charged images to manipulate public opinion. The video has sparked significant debate and has gone viral, highlighting the complex ethical considerations surrounding the interaction between humans and animals in tourism.