Raising funds to help save elephants

A Dundee taxi driver has raised thousands of pounds towards rescuing elephants in Thailand after learning about their cruel treatment at visitor attractions.

Ronnie Adamson is urging tourists to boycott elephant rides due to the barbaric methods used to tame the animals.

The 55-year-old said that volunteering holidays at elephant sanctuaries were a better alternative for animal lovers.

Ronnie explained: “About four or five years ago I decided I wanted a holiday with a difference. I’d always been an animal lover and wanted to go on an elephant trek, so I started looking into it.

“In Thailand, these are very popular with tourists, but while I was researching it I saw lots of articles on how cruel the practice is, so I decided against it. I then saw a link to an elephant rescue centre.”

He continued: “I saw the good work they were doing, so decided I wanted to raise money for them.

“Last year I raised £1,700 and the year before that I collected £1,300 after I held a race.

“I will probably do something this year too and might make it an annual thing.

“But the main thing is to make people aware of what goes on because many tourists going on elephant rides don’t know about the cruelty.”

Elephants would not let a human ride on top of them so they need to be tamed when they are young, often through a process called “phajaan”, meaning “crushing of the spirit”.

This involves methods such as taking baby elephants away from their mothers and confining them in a cage, then beating them with clubs and piercing them with bull hooks, as well as depriving them of sleep and food.

Long-term, the animals can also suffer health problems due to exhaustion, overwork and spine damage.

Mr Adamson at the Thai elephant sanctuary.