On behalf of Zambezi Elephant Trails in Livingstone, Zambia, has announced their distancing from elephant back safaris and say they will have ended the practice at their establishment completely by end of December 2017. 

The move comes after Botswana's Abu Camp, the only facility that allowed elephant back riding in the country, was also directed to terminate its elephant back safaris.

The ban on the riding of elephants is an extension of these moves linked to a new government policy, guided by Minister of Environment TK Khama, to improve the welfare of elephants in captivity. His department studied their subjugation in being forced to carry tourists and found it unacceptable.

According to the NGO World Animal Protection, most tourists go on elephant rides because they love elephants. They don’t know about the intense physical and psychological pain involved.

Hopefully South Africa and other countries will be the next to avoid elephants back-rides.

From: Traveller24.com