Next, the rider started calling off commands. Shortly after coming to a stop, all of us gasped in surprise as the passenger box suddenly turns down to about a 30 degree angle from the ground. The elephant was sitting down. Since we were not experienced riders, they sat the elephant down and instructed us to gently slide off of its back.
Absolutely! For one thing, elephant riding wouldn’t have begun here if elephants didn’t already live in the area. Elephants are crucial to the park for many reasons, which cmay be broadly broken into park uses and cultural uses.
First, elephants rides are fundamental to park ecotourism and thus revenue. They’re a safe mode of transportation for locating and treating sick animals in the park. They’re able to chase off wild rhinos and elephants that are disrupting the villagers’ farms, and they help rescue people in flooded areas. Some parts of the park are inaccessible except by foot or elephant. Therefore, elephants are used to transport goods to remote areas, to keep the borders secure, and to aid researchers in wildlife studies. The adult elephants also help train baby elephants.
In other applications, they’re used to organize and execute international elephant races and polo games. They’re also regarded as sacred animals and used in religious ceremonies. In the Hindu religion, Ganesh is a popular, elephant-headed god. Symbolically, each part of the elephant head has meaning. The big ears represent a patient and careful listener.
