Thousands of Asian elephants remain in working roles in Myanmar, Thailand, and India. Welfare varies enormously — from genuinely positive mahout-elephant relationships to severe exploitation.
Timber elephants that work within sustainable schedules and are well-fed, given rest periods, and handled by experienced mahouts can have good welfare. Those forced to work excessive hours, denied food, or controlled through pain experience significant suffering. The welfare range is wide — individual assessment rather than blanket condemnation is more accurate.