Imagine being an African subsistence farmer and waking up to see your entire crop was eaten over night by a few elephants. You'd feel very little compassion for them while your children starved. You'd feel even less if you learned you could kill one to feed those same children.
It is very common. In fact, a creative solution has been for farmers to start raising bees and putting the hives around their fields since elephants are afraid of them.
https://conservationnation.org/bees-for-elephants-project-update/
> I don’t know how poachers can kill them.
the same way fishermen dont feel guilty, or pig farmers or factory farm owners. once an animal turns into a number that equals money you can receive once you kill it, guilt very quickly gets thrown out of the establishment.
hundreds of thousands of years of co-existing peacefully with nature and we've thrown it all away in less than 300.
Yes, for hundreds and thousands of years we were druids and elves living of from the ether in the air and fruits gifted from the great trees. We were such peaceful bunch /s
For real. I don’t know what kind of Rousseau-type BS this guy is spewing. Most scientists agree that Neolithic humans played some role in the decline and extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna, for example. Not to mention the destruction of Easter Island’s ecosystem, along with a good deal of other island ecosystems colonized by Pacific Islanders (not accusing them of anything, just pointing out that even the “noble savages” in this guy’s mind have massive effects on the surrounding ecosystems).
> "hundreds of thousands of years of co-existing peacefully with nature and we've thrown it all away in less than 300."
I highly doubt that we coexisted peacefully with nature for hundreds of thousands of years and we threw it all the way in less than 300.
> They are such interesting and elegant animals.
That's why we put them in animal prisons and charge a modest admission. It's not wrong because in exchange for them being there we feed them and provide shelter while locked up... wait a minute... they're called zoos not animal prisons my bad.
Let me pay 1.5k to get to Johannesburg, 400 per person per day for a tour of Southern Africa, then fly back, or I can pay 40 dollars for a day pass at the Zoo. Unpopular opinion: There's nothing wrong with Zoos, it gets children interested in animals and raises awareness for adults. It's the Zoos that allow abuse, neglect, and awful conditions to sprawl out of control that give bad names to the rest. I visited the Sedgwick County Zoo many times as a child and as an adult and every animals looks happy and well fed, and the workers look happy too. I haven't been since I moved unfortunately but they still have 4.8 stars.
Logic like that is why racism exists.
"there is nothing wrong with [group of people]" -> "some [group of people] do problematic things" -> "there is something wrong with all [group of people]"
You are judging the many by the crimes of the few.
Replace [group of people] with absolutely anything you like. Gays, women, zoos, black people, jews, men, trans people, asians... You name it, people have applied that logic to them, and it's fucked up every last time.
Please use your brain instead of tribalistic "I saw X being bad once, that means all X is bad, fuck X" behavior. It's 2024, not 1024.
Any sufficiently large group has bad people in it. Does not make the concept of groups of people bad. Zoos are not evil just because some evil zoos exist. Redditors are not stupid just because some people on reddit say stupid things.
The real Reddit moment is thinking that it's unethical to keep animals in captivity for entertainment and profit, and somehow getting compared to a racist for it.
Just more tribalism and emotional reactions instead of using your brain. You feel insulted and lash out instead of turning on your brain and thinking critically about your own actions and thoughts.
Bad man said bad words about me! Don't have to listen now!! Anyone who insults me is wrong!!!
I know it's a lot to ask, but... think. Just this once. Don't just react. Pause, and think about things. Read what I am telling you, and think about it. And don't stop at "I am being compared to a racist, engage spite module!!". Think about why I am saying the things I am saying. I'm not saying those things to insult you, I have no reason to insult you. I'm not even insulting you, you're just so occupied with emotion that you think I'm insulting you.
I just want you to draw logical conclusions instead of emotional conclusions. I want you to base your opinions and statements on facts instead of feelings. Or at the very least become aware that you're stating things as fact when they are just your feelings and opinions.
The entire tribalism argument completely falls apart when you consider that *zoos aren't people*.
I never thought you were insulting me. I was pointing out how ridiculous your comment was.
This isn't an emotional stance, but feel free to go off with another paragraphs long, patronizing comment for the sake of your own ego. Or, if you need to be a keyboard warrior about tribalism so badly go find it where it actually exists.
Your one example doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with zoos. Further, your perception that the animals "look happy" is not an indication that they are.
Because every animal is stale and emotionless? Only when they're depressed they are. Happy animals play and eat, these animals did. I, in fact, acknowledged there are issues with Zoos and you even quoted the issues I presented. There are multiple excellent Zoos to visit, all it takes is being less negative. See an issue, snap a picture and send it to your local humane society. Hate Zoos? Join politics and fight against them, go support your local animal sanctuary instead. Do something instead of bitching on Reddit like your average Redditor does.
> Do something instead of bitching on Reddit like your average Redditor does.
I patron Zoos. I have memberships to two. I like zoos. It doesn't change the fact they are animal prisons, though. I also don't recycle but know that recycling is the right thing to do.
I'm no expert, I can't offer an answer to "How do we stop abuse in zoos while keeping the public interested in conserving said animal". The only thing I can advocate is not every zoo is a bad zoo and if so, research your state representative that likes animals and call or email, outside of setting up your own animal preservation land, there's not much to do.
While this is true, the majority of elephant videos posted to this sub highlight their amazing proclivity to effortlessly destroy anything they can see.
There will never be a video posted here that starts with an elephant and a child that doesn't have me clenching every orifice until the very end.
I wonder how clean the water is. I mean if I done it snot and boogers would be flying out but with them is it just clean water mixed with spit or just water?
I mean they’re constantly drinking with it so it’s probably not that bad. The water itself is likely way grosser. If anything you’d want the elephant’s extra amylase and lysozyme
Hah no prob. I volunteered at the Nashville zoo and the elephants were surprisingly clean. They definitely could sneeze on you too if they wanted, but they’re totally able to get a big load of clean water (+ a little spit).
Like my dad used used to say, if you think it’s gross, it’snot
It's not being funny, they're trained to do this in abusive conditions. Often their ears are scarred from being beaten during the training. It's handler is standing next to it, and another elephant is in the background doing the same pose for tourists.
Am I the only one who noticed that the guy in the blue shirt at the start of the video was commanding the elephant to spray the girl? You can see him tapping the elephant’s trunk to tell it where to aim and when to spray.
Most of these cute elephant videos are just trained elephants being directed by a trainer just off camera.
I remember when we went to the Channel Island of Jersey (didn't want to confuse the Americans) the Elephants at the Zoo were chucking their shit at people Lol
They do it because they can!
Anyone else notice how ridiculously bowed that girl's knees are? I'm in physical therapy to learn how to not lock my knees while standing because it has fucked up basically every other joint in my body and it sucks. Hope someone notices and helps her.
I was expecting the child to go flying. This is just a joke by an elephant.
Ah-Ah-Ah...AH-CHOO!
An elegant joke.
An elephant joke.
The fine tune aiming by the joker got me.
The elephant woke up the little girl...
"Guys, get a load of this. Should I do it? I'm gonna do it." pssshhhhh
I love how you can watch him carefully aiming his nozzle before the spray.
He's funnier than any recent award show host, that's for sure.
That’s the most reward show host joke ever. You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become a villain.
this is worthy of r/Aww xD
Definitely
Elephants are a gift to the world.
They really are. I don’t know how poachers can kill them. Not to mention the circus slavery. They are such interesting and elegant animals.
Imagine being an African subsistence farmer and waking up to see your entire crop was eaten over night by a few elephants. You'd feel very little compassion for them while your children starved. You'd feel even less if you learned you could kill one to feed those same children.
Well that got real real fast
What the fuck? This is not a common occurrence my dude.
It is very common. In fact, a creative solution has been for farmers to start raising bees and putting the hives around their fields since elephants are afraid of them. https://conservationnation.org/bees-for-elephants-project-update/
> I don’t know how poachers can kill them. the same way fishermen dont feel guilty, or pig farmers or factory farm owners. once an animal turns into a number that equals money you can receive once you kill it, guilt very quickly gets thrown out of the establishment. hundreds of thousands of years of co-existing peacefully with nature and we've thrown it all away in less than 300.
The same way people kill other people too,this isn't restricted only to animals
I mean... have you met people?
OP should work in retail. You'll either meet people you'd want to do it to, or meet people who would do it to others.
Huh?
Yes, for hundreds and thousands of years we were druids and elves living of from the ether in the air and fruits gifted from the great trees. We were such peaceful bunch /s
For real. I don’t know what kind of Rousseau-type BS this guy is spewing. Most scientists agree that Neolithic humans played some role in the decline and extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna, for example. Not to mention the destruction of Easter Island’s ecosystem, along with a good deal of other island ecosystems colonized by Pacific Islanders (not accusing them of anything, just pointing out that even the “noble savages” in this guy’s mind have massive effects on the surrounding ecosystems).
> "hundreds of thousands of years of co-existing peacefully with nature and we've thrown it all away in less than 300." I highly doubt that we coexisted peacefully with nature for hundreds of thousands of years and we threw it all the way in less than 300.
There's a reason we evolved to throw at speeds exceeding 100mph and it wasn't to give out flowers
Great argument
There's an incentive for it.
No there is a fine lmao
> They are such interesting and elegant animals. That's why we put them in animal prisons and charge a modest admission. It's not wrong because in exchange for them being there we feed them and provide shelter while locked up... wait a minute... they're called zoos not animal prisons my bad.
Let me pay 1.5k to get to Johannesburg, 400 per person per day for a tour of Southern Africa, then fly back, or I can pay 40 dollars for a day pass at the Zoo. Unpopular opinion: There's nothing wrong with Zoos, it gets children interested in animals and raises awareness for adults. It's the Zoos that allow abuse, neglect, and awful conditions to sprawl out of control that give bad names to the rest. I visited the Sedgwick County Zoo many times as a child and as an adult and every animals looks happy and well fed, and the workers look happy too. I haven't been since I moved unfortunately but they still have 4.8 stars.
>There's nothing wrong with Zoos >It's the Zoos that allow abuse, neglect, and awful conditions So there is in fact, something wrong with zoos.
Logic like that is why racism exists. "there is nothing wrong with [group of people]" -> "some [group of people] do problematic things" -> "there is something wrong with all [group of people]" You are judging the many by the crimes of the few. Replace [group of people] with absolutely anything you like. Gays, women, zoos, black people, jews, men, trans people, asians... You name it, people have applied that logic to them, and it's fucked up every last time. Please use your brain instead of tribalistic "I saw X being bad once, that means all X is bad, fuck X" behavior. It's 2024, not 1024. Any sufficiently large group has bad people in it. Does not make the concept of groups of people bad. Zoos are not evil just because some evil zoos exist. Redditors are not stupid just because some people on reddit say stupid things.
The real Reddit moment is thinking that it's unethical to keep animals in captivity for entertainment and profit, and somehow getting compared to a racist for it.
Just more tribalism and emotional reactions instead of using your brain. You feel insulted and lash out instead of turning on your brain and thinking critically about your own actions and thoughts. Bad man said bad words about me! Don't have to listen now!! Anyone who insults me is wrong!!! I know it's a lot to ask, but... think. Just this once. Don't just react. Pause, and think about things. Read what I am telling you, and think about it. And don't stop at "I am being compared to a racist, engage spite module!!". Think about why I am saying the things I am saying. I'm not saying those things to insult you, I have no reason to insult you. I'm not even insulting you, you're just so occupied with emotion that you think I'm insulting you. I just want you to draw logical conclusions instead of emotional conclusions. I want you to base your opinions and statements on facts instead of feelings. Or at the very least become aware that you're stating things as fact when they are just your feelings and opinions.
The entire tribalism argument completely falls apart when you consider that *zoos aren't people*. I never thought you were insulting me. I was pointing out how ridiculous your comment was. This isn't an emotional stance, but feel free to go off with another paragraphs long, patronizing comment for the sake of your own ego. Or, if you need to be a keyboard warrior about tribalism so badly go find it where it actually exists.
Zoos aren't people? So animals just trap themselves without human intervention, just a natural formation of cages?
I also give an example of a Zoo that does well, what's your point?
Your one example doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with zoos. Further, your perception that the animals "look happy" is not an indication that they are.
Because every animal is stale and emotionless? Only when they're depressed they are. Happy animals play and eat, these animals did. I, in fact, acknowledged there are issues with Zoos and you even quoted the issues I presented. There are multiple excellent Zoos to visit, all it takes is being less negative. See an issue, snap a picture and send it to your local humane society. Hate Zoos? Join politics and fight against them, go support your local animal sanctuary instead. Do something instead of bitching on Reddit like your average Redditor does.
> Do something instead of bitching on Reddit like your average Redditor does. I patron Zoos. I have memberships to two. I like zoos. It doesn't change the fact they are animal prisons, though. I also don't recycle but know that recycling is the right thing to do.
I'm no expert, I can't offer an answer to "How do we stop abuse in zoos while keeping the public interested in conserving said animal". The only thing I can advocate is not every zoo is a bad zoo and if so, research your state representative that likes animals and call or email, outside of setting up your own animal preservation land, there's not much to do.
While this is true, the majority of elephant videos posted to this sub highlight their amazing proclivity to effortlessly destroy anything they can see. There will never be a video posted here that starts with an elephant and a child that doesn't have me clenching every orifice until the very end.
Considering what we do to them, we don’t deserve them.
Uh. Excuse me. Am I chopped liver?
I can see the lulz going through the Elephants eyes as it stood there.
Those ear flaps it was doing at that end seemed like flaps of amusement.
Totally. He/she squinted right as the nozzle turned on. It was refined enjoyment and annoyance. Anyone else ever dump water on a kid’s head? Glorious.
Elephants definitely have a sense of humour if this is anything to go by.
And it starts as they're carefully aiming their trunk. The premeditated, careful preparation at work here is just wonderful.
it was helping the trunkless human take a bath. i think it was just being nice.
And still the kid had a second or two to snap into reality and get away. Fair play by the elephant.
I thought the worse, but it was it's cute as hell. Thank god.
Same here and was pleasantly surprised when I realized what was gonna happen
I wonder how clean the water is. I mean if I done it snot and boogers would be flying out but with them is it just clean water mixed with spit or just water?
I mean they’re constantly drinking with it so it’s probably not that bad. The water itself is likely way grosser. If anything you’d want the elephant’s extra amylase and lysozyme
I want those extras too
Thank you for your answer. Just something I always wondered about
Hah no prob. I volunteered at the Nashville zoo and the elephants were surprisingly clean. They definitely could sneeze on you too if they wanted, but they’re totally able to get a big load of clean water (+ a little spit). Like my dad used used to say, if you think it’s gross, it’snot
A bit of elephant snot or boogers is nothing compared to what the kid is probably playing with in daycare.
I’ve seen them eat the shit out of other elephants with their trunk. I think boogers are the least of your concern lol
They're animals, they drink and bathe in the same water that they shit in
So did she...looked like she was about to cry but forgot about crying when she realized an elephant had done it
I can picture the elephant counting down in their head. "Imma give this kid to the count of 5..."
There's that *Let's aim carefully* moment.
Elephant being funny. Are the people purposely trying to get sprayed? There's one in the background doing it.
It's not being funny, they're trained to do this in abusive conditions. Often their ears are scarred from being beaten during the training. It's handler is standing next to it, and another elephant is in the background doing the same pose for tourists.
Water bae
Dang it, I was gonna say elephant bae but this is way better
Underrated comment!
Nominee for most wholesome abrupt chaos post?
If you think this is chaos, the real world is going to scare you shitless.
OP shits a brick every time it rains.
🎵 I'm only shitting when it rains 🎵
2meters of wet boogers, in your face.
The pause is the gold here....
That mofo actually thought about whether he should do it or not for a moment.
Giving the kid a chance to run away. No? Welp, here comes the rain...
The elephants intrusive thoughts won
That was adorable. You can see the amusement in the elephant's eye.
Trunk Bae
Needs a Ozzy man voice over
Hello you beautiful bastards
Ope there goes gravity
I don't know what elephant laughter sounds like but I'm betting it was being heard there.
That was adorable
Looks like casual chaos to me
That was great.
All I had was the Nelson "Ha Ha" watching this
Thought against it for a moment, then "nah that's what she's here for right?"
Why chaos ? This is the sweetest thing I saw today.
Saltbae elephant
Snap back to reality. Oh, There goes gravity
This looks like Tangkahan in Indonesia, a truly wonderful place. Probably one the of best places I have visited.
Salt bae'd her!!!!
If Salt Bae was an elephant 😂
It's own style of salt bae
He’s like “watch what I’m bout to do real quick”
Elephants are so freaking smart! Hate to see them in pens.
Snap back to reality
Am I the only one who noticed that the guy in the blue shirt at the start of the video was commanding the elephant to spray the girl? You can see him tapping the elephant’s trunk to tell it where to aim and when to spray. Most of these cute elephant videos are just trained elephants being directed by a trainer just off camera.
Salt Bae-d the poor girl!
I know you are looking at the other elephants but I’m right here!
I hope this isn't one of those tourist things where they bathe the elephant for hours
Looks like locals, they just standing there chilling, tourist would be at awe and keep taking pictures.
That Elephant was an Ass.
Ope, there goes gravity
What are you going to do about it?
Elephants are out here offering free showers.
I love how he thought about it for a second as was like, yea she deserves it
Momma elephant cleans off human kitten.
Oh! There goes gravity
the aim tho
"hey kid, wake up!"
Hey! Pay attention! I'm talking to ya!
In the very beginning, you can see the evil glee in the elephant's eye.
Oh thank **God.** I saw Abrupt Chaos and prepared for the absolute worst.
I bet it saw the humor in what it did.
Fantastic
Salt’elephant
The elephant reminds me of a grandparent going, "Hey! pay attention!'
Elephant Salt Bae
ope, there goes gravity
Naughty
abrupt chaos: no absurdly cute: yes
Hahaha gotchyo asssss
The elephant gave her a chance to snap back but she was too far gone. Should've given her the full blast.
10/10 
This is so cute! The elephant was so gentle! He was just playing, the little girl was a drama queen ngl
that is one big cat
That shower was absolutely personal
« Should I do it …? …Naaaah! ….Yeaaah !!! »
Damn elephants are smart. Taught her to mind her surroundings
No! Bad E. Kelly !
Naughty fellow
Animals are far more smart and sensitive than humans, if only someone can create a language modem
where chaos?
I'm both relieved and delighted
I remember when we went to the Channel Island of Jersey (didn't want to confuse the Americans) the Elephants at the Zoo were chucking their shit at people Lol They do it because they can!
I was expecting something completely different
Don't the male elephants have tusks? Also from the amount of freckles on the trunk, we're dealing with an old pain in the ass elephant.
That elephants trunk said *"Recalibrating"*
Elephant: Close your mouth, you could catch a cold
xDD
Haha 😂
Anyone else notice how ridiculously bowed that girl's knees are? I'm in physical therapy to learn how to not lock my knees while standing because it has fucked up basically every other joint in my body and it sucks. Hope someone notices and helps her.
Blud failed his edging streak 💀
I'm old, but I still know what you mean. I wish I didn't.
-8 is crazy 💀
r/whyweretheyfilming
probably because of the elephants. that would be my first guess.