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Thai elephants get potty training
Agence France-Presse ^
| January 19, 2005
| AFP
Posted on 01/20/2005 5:48:00 AM PST by AntiGuv
BANGKOK (AFP) - Having taught Thailand's elephants to paint, dance and play musical instruments, their Thai handlers are now toilet-training the beasts, media reported.
Handlers -- known as mahouts -- have installed giant human-style toilets at a camp in the northern city of Chiang Mai to try to rid the tourist attraction of unsightly droppings, according to the Nation newspaper.
Some seven elephants at the privately run camp beside Chiang Mai Zoo are being trained to sit like a human on the giant white toilets, which can be flushed by pulling on a rope with a gentle tug of the trunk, said the daily.
It showed a picture of a five-year-old elephant named Diew testing out one of the oversized concrete toilets, which has been fitted with equally jumbo-sized plumbing.
The elephants were reportedly rescued from the streets of Bangkok where people were using them to collect money from tourists.
TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: elephants; potty; thailand
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OK, I admit it's not the most important news of the day, but still!
1
posted on
01/20/2005 5:48:01 AM PST
by
AntiGuv
To: AntiGuv
What a nice present to bestow upon Rosie O'Donnell!
2
posted on
01/20/2005 6:06:37 AM PST
by
cweese
(Hook 'em Horns!!!)
To: AntiGuv
IIRC, no elephants were killed in the tsunami. They all lit out for higher ground.
Instead of spending billions of dollars for a high-tech warning system, they should just station some pachyderms along the coast, with potties, and keep an eye on them. When they get nervous and head inland, follow 'em.
3
posted on
01/20/2005 6:22:03 AM PST
by
Roccus
(Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
To: cweese
yeah, but I bet he leaves the seat up.....
typical male......
4
posted on
01/20/2005 6:28:47 AM PST
by
duckbutt
( If you let a smile be your umbrella, then most likely your butt will get soaking wet.)
To: AntiGuv
Probably a better idea than a litter box.
5
posted on
01/20/2005 6:42:22 AM PST
by
jtminton
(<><)
To: jtminton
Somehow, and I am trying to resist this as I have no sympathy for PETA, this seems to be a blow to the elephants dignity.
6
posted on
01/20/2005 6:50:05 AM PST
by
cajungirl
(my peeps are freeps)
To: AntiGuv
I thought Hellery was already potty trained!?
7
posted on
01/20/2005 6:59:33 AM PST
by
quark
To: Cagey
"Thai elephants get potty training"
"Man sells his left nut on ebay"
"Aussie girls can stand to pee "
It's the good old days!
8
posted on
01/20/2005 7:02:03 AM PST
by
Rebelbase
(Who is General Chat?)
To: Rebelbase; Ellesu
It's 2001 all over again!
9
posted on
01/20/2005 7:04:38 AM PST
by
Cagey
To: Roccus
IIRC, no elephants were killed in the tsunami. They all lit out for higher ground. Instead of spending billions of dollars for a high-tech warning system, they should just station some pachyderms along the coast, with potties, and keep an eye on them. When they get nervous and head inland, follow 'em. Yes, and no. In Thailand, there are no wild elephants in the areas that got hit. A very large percentage of the elephants in Thailand are kept in camps like the one mentioned in the article. Technology has replaced most of the traditional uses of the elephant and the owners simply can not afford the cost of raising the animals. The only elephant camp I know of in the tsunami hit areas was in Kao Lak. This camp is not along the coastline so it wasn't damaged. Nice myth that they headed for higher ground, but unfortunately it is simply a myth.
10
posted on
01/20/2005 7:10:54 AM PST
by
killjoy
(War is not the answer, simply part of the solution)
To: cajungirl
Somehow, and I am trying to resist this as I have no sympathy for PETA, this seems to be a blow to the elephants dignity. There are a lot of problems related to elephants in Thailand because of the huge costs of raising them. If this can help raise money to pay for their food and medical checkups, great! I am sure this will bring in most tourist dollars which the elephant camps desperately need.
11
posted on
01/20/2005 7:14:19 AM PST
by
killjoy
(War is not the answer, simply part of the solution)
To: Roccus
Not only did they take off for higher ground, but stopped just a few hundred feet from where the wave made it to inland. As if they knew not only what was coming, but how far the wave would make it inland. Weird.
To: Space Wrangler
Not only did they take off for higher ground, but stopped just a few hundred feet from where the wave made it to inland. As if they knew not only what was coming, but how far the wave would make it inland. Weird. Impossible. See my post #10 on this thread.
13
posted on
01/20/2005 7:15:43 AM PST
by
killjoy
(War is not the answer, simply part of the solution)
To: AntiGuv
Who do I contact to hire these guys to potty train my puppy?
14
posted on
01/20/2005 7:18:40 AM PST
by
melbell
(There are 10 types of people in the world...those who understand binary, and those who don't.)
To: killjoy
I had seen a story on one of the news shows of a Japanese couple who were taking a touristy ride on an elephant when it took off for the high ground. It was claimed that this is what saved them. I guess it was just so much more fluff out of the idiot box.
Thanks for the correction.
15
posted on
01/20/2005 7:19:33 AM PST
by
Roccus
(Quando Omni Flunkus Moritati)
To: AntiGuv
That's friggin awesome.
Now they just need friggin laser beams on their heads! :D
To: killjoy
Just going by some first-hand press reports of what some European tourists had to say. Could have been made up press reports though. You never know.
To: Roccus; Space Wrangler; killjoy
18
posted on
01/20/2005 7:22:33 AM PST
by
AntiGuv
(™)
To: Cagey
19
posted on
01/20/2005 7:22:52 AM PST
by
Ellesu
To: cweese
I wish some one would potty train the stinking elephants that live by my Soi (street) they block traffic, and leave huge smelly ponds and mounds on the streets needless to say, it makes ur morning run more challenging. Luckily street sweepers come by periodically.
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