Costume controverso

Vestidos como Papai Noel, os elefantes-asiáticos da Tailândia distribuíram máscaras este ano para alunos da rede pública. A festa colorida e embalada pela proximidade do Natal não agrada grupos de defesa dos animais.

The event is held annually by elephant camps in the province and widely perceived as a good-spirited Christmas gesture by many in Thailand, wildlife advocates have been against the practice for many years. Jan Schmidt-Burbach, a wildlife veterinarian and advisor for World Animal Protection calls the present giving an ‘incredibly stressful’ experience for the elephants, which could lead to children perceiving elephants as entertainers rather than wild animals.