Asian elephants are exploited in timber logging and tourism across Southeast Asia, with welfare concerns around training, working conditions, and captive care.
Phajaan training involves confining young elephants and subjecting them to pain to break their will, causing severe psychological trauma. Riding tourism elephants show signs of chronic pain and stereotypic behaviors. Chaining between work periods causes joint problems and foot pathologies. Elephants deprived of social contact with conspecifics develop severe psychological problems.