Editor's note: In this weekly feature China Daily gives voice to Asia and its people. The stories presented come mainly from the Asia News Network (ANN), of which China Daily is among its 20 leading titles.
Mahouts ride elephants during the Elephant Festival in Sauraha, Chitwan, Nepal, on Dec 27. AMBIR TOLANG/GETTY IMAGES
Sauraha, a major tourist destination in Chitwan, Nepal, has long been synonymous with elephant safaris. For decades, foreign and domestic tourists visiting Sauraha, adjacent to Chitwan National Park, have mounted elephants to traverse the buffer zone's community forests in search of rare wildlife.
However, the local entrepreneurs who have privately owned and domesticated elephants are worried about a recent Supreme Court verdict. They express their concerns, stating that the future of the iconic practice of elephant safaris is in jeopardy. They argue an abrupt halt to elephant safaris could devastate the local economy, tourism and harm the animals themselves.
Private elephant owners in Sauraha express readiness to shift toward ethical alternatives, such as elephant-friendly sanctuaries and bushwalks, but contend that a sudden ban is impractical. They are urging authorities to phase out elephants gradually so that owners have time to adjust their businesses and protect livelihoods.
