Recent instances of elephant injuries illustrate harms of tourism industry

Elephants have long been a source of human fascination and admiration. The species is vastly intelligent, social and emotional, capable of activities previously believed to be unattainable to non-humans such as grieving the dead. This love for elephants brings countless tourists to elephant attractions, allowing them the opportunity to interact with the species firsthand. The attractions may look idyllic to star-struck visitors, but they are often darker than they seem. Two recent cases of elephant injuries at wildlife attractions provide a small glimpse into an industry …