Uploaded May 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
It was so sad to see this elephant with its legs chained up together eating trash in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
For centuries, Bangladesh has kept elephants in captivity for logging, transport, and entertainment. The traditional Hadani training method involves separating calves from their mothers and herds, then subjecting them to violent “breaking” techniques. This causes profound biological, psychological, and behavioral harm, including chronic stress, abnormal fear responses, impaired social skills, and heightened aggression or withdrawal.
A viral 2026 incident in Moulvibazar showed a seven-year-old calf shackled and beaten during Hadani training, sparking outrage. While the calf and his 42-year-old mother were released into Kalapahar forest, the move was criticized as symbolic, as they later faced further danger — the mother was killed by a train.
In 2025, Bangladesh launched a reintroduction program to end centuries-old elephant captivity. The government is retrieving privately owned elephants, rehabilitating them, and preparing forest sites for rewilding. Two potential sanctuaries, Rema-Kalenga and Chunati, are under review. Officials stress that elephants will never return to captivity, but challenges remain, including disease risks and loss of wild instincts.
#animalrights #crueltyfree #Crueltytoanimals #animalcrueltyfree #Animalcruelty #elephant #elephants
It was so sad to see this elephant with its legs chained up together eating trash in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
For centuries, Bangladesh has kept elephants in captivity for logging, transport, and entertainment. The traditional Hadani training method involves separating calves from their mothers and herds, then subjecting them to violent “breaking” techniques. This causes profound biological, psychological, and behavioral harm, including chronic stress, abnormal fear responses, impaired social skills, and heightened aggression or withdrawal.
A viral 2026 incident in Moulvibazar showed a seven-year-old calf shackled and beaten during Hadani training, sparking outrage. While the calf and his 42-year-old mother were released into Kalapahar forest, the move was criticized as symbolic, as they later faced further danger — the mother was killed by a train.
In 2025, Bangladesh launched a reintroduction program to end centuries-old elephant captivity. The government is retrieving privately owned elephants, rehabilitating them, and preparing forest sites for rewilding. Two potential sanctuaries, Rema-Kalenga and Chunati, are under review. Officials stress that elephants will never return to captivity, but challenges remain, including disease risks and loss of wild instincts.
#animalrights #crueltyfree #Crueltytoanimals #animalcrueltyfree #Animalcruelty #elephant #elephants
