The Cellar - June 27, 2009: Pandaphant

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June 27, 2009: Pandaphant

That's right, Pandaphants.

Quote:

It is a desperate cry - or rather a very loud trumpet - for attention.
These elephants were painted black and white to look like the pandas who have stolen all their fans. The elephant is Thailand's national symbol, but the country has gone panda-crazy since the birth of a female panda cub to pandas Lin Hui and Xuang Xuang at Chiang Mai zoo in Bangkok.

The Bangkok Post also reported that a 20 million baht (£355,800) snow house was being built for the panda family at the zoo. Sick of all the fuss, keepers at the Ayutthaya-Elephant Kraal decided to take drastic-action, painting five of their neglected giants in watercolour paint, then parading them before schoolchildren. The stunt has resulted in panda-monium as the zookeepers try to draw the country's attention back to its neglected giants.

http://cellar.org/2009/pandaphants.jpg

Quote:

Some told the Bangkok Post website that the keepers had gone 'a bit overboard', but others applauded their action. 'Right on! It's time the Government took care of its national symbol... the elephant!' one reader wrote. 'The Chinese have taken care of theirs so why not Thailand?'

Slathering them in white watercolour paint, the keepers at the Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal then paraded the five elephants before schoolchildren in an effort to remind Thailand that its elephants have needs, too.

That's right, Elephants have needs too.
The paint job really shows how hairy they are.

link
via unique daily.

I love it, it's like "we got your pandas, right here."

Give the elephants some love. I would. They're so cute.

Poor fellas been spray painted.

That's right kids. Make sure your pets have been sprayed to prevent unwanted puppies.

um...I wonder what Leah would say? This looks like abuse to me. *slinks away*

I didn't really think about it. I guess it could be. :(

It's only abuse when they stick flashing lights and sirens on them. :cop:

The elephants don't look unduly distressed to me.

lol Zen.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanaC (Post 578083)

The elephants don't look unduly distressed to me.

That's because they haven't seen a mirror yet.

Is this the Thai version of a wolf in sheeps clothing? It's much less subtle.:eyebrow:

I'm dying to know what the text is on the one on the right in the bottom pic.

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy (Post 578098)

I'm dying to know what the text is on the one on the right in the bottom pic.

"Wash Me" - ?

I'm glad they're washable, or else they would be Thai-dyed

Cap - I saw a pic from another angle - It clearly says ...

"I was an Elephant"

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodoggy (Post 578121)

I'm glad they're washable, or else they would be Thai-dyed

:biglaugha Welcome to the Cellar, Boodoggy! :thumb:

Quote:

Originally Posted by boodoggy (Post 578121)

I'm glad they're washable, or else they would be Thai-dyed

:smack:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna (Post 578088)

That's because they haven't seen a mirror yet.

Heh, they've seen each other...:3eye:

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy (Post 578098)

I'm dying to know what the text is on the one on the right in the bottom pic.

"I am not an animal! I am a .... oh crap ..."

That's good to get the elephants some press since worthless, bottom of the genetic ladder, soon-to-be-extinct Pandas, are hogging too much of it lately.

My panda was killed by an elephant on 9/11. Insensitive bastards.

Anybody have a recipe for Pandaphant stew? (they're too big for my grill)

Yes
1) Obtain very large pot.
2) I'll get back w/you.

I do feel sorry for the poor little fella's. There are some places in Thailand that look after the elephants very well, and so many others that don't. It's such a sad thing to see. In one way I do agree it is abuse, but it's getting the point across to the government, I'm sure. They do look so adorable painted, but I can't help feeling sorry for them, especially the littlest one, who looks very sad and lonely. The Thai Government need a good kick up the backside. Still to this day there are hundreds of baby elephants and grown ones being forced to beg on the streets of Bangkok, drugged and forced to work 24/7. I hate going to BK, I always get in arguments with the owners/mahouts of the baby elephants that are being forced to beg for money and food. They look so exhausted and scared, and you can tell they are abused. All the Thai Police turn a blind eye to it all, like it does not exist, makes me cry every time I see it. I do love them so much. :f193::joylove: Anyway don't get me started on this, I was having a good day until now.:mecry::cry:

Leah, I say recently on TV that the BK police have occasionaly crackdowns on people bringing elephants into the city to beg - they first offence gets a warnging and the elephant gets microchipped, and for a second offence the elephant is confiscated.
What happens next was not entirely clear.

I'm sure that's what they want everyone to believe, there are too many back streets and markets for the police to target. They honestly turn a blind eye, I"ve seen it so many times, that's why I hate BK so much, it happens all over the place, Chiang Mai, Phuket you name it it happens. I've driven around back streets and seen the little babies hidden amongst houses and shacks. The police just don't care that much. Sure there might be a few that are actually policing this but many don't care. There is so much poverty for humans over there, these elephants bring in a little money for the family and greedy mahout. Now I'm sad.

Well, maybe you could check Youtube for one of those videos of an elephant that has been teased until it finally blows its top and beats the absolute shit out of whoever was teasing it.

Zengum's safety tip for this week: don't tease elephants.

Yes, I've seen many of those, and to tell you the truth, I love seeing them, serves them right. As horrible as that sounds, we have no idea how badly the elephant had been treated and how often it was beaten, it sickens me to think about it, and to make it do that to it's owner/mahout it must have been so desperate for an escape. Go the elephant, go.