Laos’s Living Human–Elephant Heritage

We oppose the imposition of Western ethical standards on Laos by NGOs and tourism markets acting in the name of protecting animals and nature. Outside organisations do not have the right to judge relationships built over generations as “cruel” on the basis of a few prohibited activities, and then reshape those relationships according to standards developed elsewhere. “No riding.” “No touching.” “Observation only.” Elephant welfare cannot be responsibly judged through these prohibitions alone. What matters is how an elephant lives throughout the day. Does the elephant walk through the forest? Can the elephant select and forage for natural vegetation? Does the elephant receive sufficient rest? Is the elephant’s health monitored continuously? Does the elephant have a stable relationship with a mahout? Are signs of discomfort or fatigue recognised and respected? Is the elephant’s condition placed before the wishes of visitors? At Manifa, we do not judge welfare through the single question of whether riding takes place. We take responsibility for the elephant’s whole life and for the quality of the care system that supports it. WHY WE QUESTION SIMPLE LABELS

We do not believe that every tradition is automatically right. Training based on pain or fear, excessive workloads, insufficient rest, and inappropriate management cannot be justified in the name of culture. But separating mahouts from elephants, erasing local knowledge, and replacing it with rules created elsewhere is not a solution either. Our goal is not to eliminate relationships. Our goal is to make them better. To respect mahout experience while incorporating animal-welfare science, veterinary care, and government oversight. To place forest walking, natural foraging, and sufficient rest at the centre of an elephant’s daily life. To modify or cancel activities according to each elephant’s health, age, condition, and individual needs. To use tourism income to support food, veterinary care, access to forests, and stable employment for mahouts and their families. This is what responsible coexistence means at Manifa.