Framing Conservation, Colonialism and Care: Captive Endangered Asian Elephants (Elephas maximus) in Nepal

Abstract

Captive elephants face numerous challenges as they navigate life in Nepalese elephant stables, or hattisars. Used as human conveyance, government anti-poaching patrol team members and rescue vehicles, these elephants work with and for humans. Numerous NGOS and INGOs are active in the lives of these animals. The United Elephant Owners’ Cooperative (UEOC) oversees the day-to-day operations of tourist safaris, while the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) offers VIPs elephant rides and transport for researchers needing to access Chitwan National Park. In addition, numerous elephant advocacy organizations have arisen with the goal of changing the riding culture and improving the lives of captive elephants. This thesis seeks to examine the motivations of these NGOs and INGOs, along with their ethical approaches to elephant health and welfare, asking are the motivations of these organizations similar enough to work together towards a common goal? Or are their ethical norms so different that get in each other’s way? Using an ordinary language and ordinary ethics theoretical framework, this thesis attempts to identify norms consistent across cultures and organisations and reframe them in ways which allow those organisations to create more successful outcomes. This study also includes an assessment of the elephant stables in the Sauraha area of Nepal. These stables, and their multi-species occupants, serve as cynosures for an examination of the health and welfare of captive elephants and mahouts. By connecting these stables, their occupants and NGOS/INGOS interested in elephant care, this study can offer suggestions to improve the health and welfare of tourism elephants.