Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. There are roughly 3,800 captive elephants in Thailand. nong2/Getty Images In Thailand, it’s very easy to encounter an elephant.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Elephants stand behind a fence, serving as a tourist attraction near Namuang Waterfall on Koh Samui in Thailand© Margarita ...

So they turned to Thailand's flourishing tourism industry, a burgeoning sector of amusement parks offering elephant rides and performances. A tamed elephant can now fetch up to $80,000, a colossal ...

Shocking comparison photographs provided by Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand show how an elephant's back can become visibly damaged by a lifetime of carrying tourists Kelli Bender is the Pets ...

Technically a large island, Phuket is Thai for “hill” and features lush landscapes, luxe resorts and party beaches that entice millions of tourists (and A-listers from Leonardo DiCaprio to Kim ...

Years of giving rides to tourists in Thailand have considerably damaged the back of an old elephant, photos show. For 25 years, Pai Lin, now around 71 years old, was forced to carry as many as six ...

Earlier this month, a photo of Pai Lin made the viral rounds. The image of the septuagenarian female illustrated the dark and painful underbelly of elephant tourism in Thailand. The Asian elephant’s ...

Mary Jo DiLonardo is a Georgia-based writer and editor, specializing in wildlife, health, pets, and sustainability. Her work has appeared in publications including WebMD, Atlanta Magazine, and Ladies' ...