The baby elephant called Meena is chained tightly together
Shocking pictures have emerged showing a baby elephant unable to move with its legs chained to a pole.
Brit traveller Ross Martin said he first came across the isolated calf in a makeshift shack in Phuket two years ago.
Meena is allegedly being forced to beg tourists for money
Ross Martin with the tiny elephant in 2017
The little elephant is separated from its mother with its leg chained to a pole
‘As far as I can see she has no access to fresh water or food and is completely on her own. As elephants are highly social animals, this can only be causing her anguish.
‘To think that she’s only young and this is how she spends her life is pretty heartbreaking.’
He says he has returned to the shack several times since then and found Meena repeatedly bobbing her head.
Wildlife experts believe this repetitive behaviour is a sign of mental stress brought on by being taken away from their natural surroundings and kept in confined areas.
Activists are calling for a thorough investigation into the elephant’s conditions
The elephant appears to sway its head while chained up in the camp
After his last visit, Mr Martin started a petition urging the Thai authorities to act and raise awareness of Meena’s situation.
Animal rights charity Thailand Elephants is supporting the petition, which has now been signed by more than 30,000 people so far.
Following an outcry, the Thai authorities sent an officer to inspect the camp, The Phuket News reported.
The officer said the elephant was legally registered and they found no cause to press any charges against the owner.