Working elephants in South and Southeast Asia support livelihoods and tourism, but their working conditions often cause chronic welfare problems requiring targeted intervention.
Working elephant welfare is shaped by the economic dependencies of their mahout-keepers and the facilities that manage them. Elephants walking on hard surfaces for tourist transport develop chronic foot problems causing persistent pain. Inadequate rest periods, insufficient food and water, and overwork during peak tourist seasons cause cumulative welfare harm. The most effective welfare interventions combine mahout training in welfare-positive practices, veterinary outreach programs, and consumer education driving demand away from riding and performing toward observation-only models. Organizations like Elephant Nature Park demonstrate that economic viability and welfare are compatible when visitor behavior shifts.