Elephants used in logging, tourism, and religious ceremonies in Asia face welfare challenges that have driven development of welfare standards and certification programs.
Phajaan — the traditional practice of confining young elephants in small structures and subjecting them to sleep deprivation, pain, and social isolation to break their will — causes acute suffering and lasting psychological trauma. Elephants trained through this method show fear-based compliance that erodes over time, leading to dangerous incidents. Tourism elephants subjected to continuous contact with strangers in hot climates develop chronic stress. Logging elephants may be better off in terms of behavioral expression but face musculoskeletal injury from heavy loads.