Retired timber elephants in Myanmar and Thailand face welfare challenges in transitioning from working lives to retirement conditions.
Retired timber elephants face welfare transitions from structured working lives to retirement conditions that may or may not be adequate. Without work, elephants that are not properly managed can become frustrated or aggressive. The economic challenge means many mahouts cannot afford adequate feed and care. Tourism dependency creates pressure to use elephants in ways that compromise welfare. The best retirement programs provide naturalistic ranging, social grouping, and veterinary care, but few operations meet this standard.