Elephant woman has a deformed back after carrying six tourists at a time for 25 years in Thailand

An image shows the brutal damage an elephant suffered after years of carrying tourists on its back.

The animal group Wildlife Friends Foundation in Thailand (WFFT) has released a photo of 71-year-old Pai Lin, a female elephant who has a deformed spine after decades of being carried by tourists.

In some cases, the older elephant was made to carry six people at a time.

In the rather touching photo, the elephant’s back is visibly hanging inwards. Where the back should bend into an almost arched shape, the spine comes in and has collapsed after decades of tremendous stress.

Pai Lin has worked in the trekking industry in Thailand for 25 years, but has now found refuge in the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand facility.

Elephant riding is an incredibly popular tourist activity in countries like Thailand where Asian elephants are abundant. This also makes it an incredibly lucrative job for travel businesses.

Campaign groups such as WFFT have long campaigned to stop local tourism businesses from using the animals. They believe the practice exploits elephants.

“Elephants used for trekking often spend whole days carrying the weight of their mahout (handler), groups of tourists and a heavy howdah (chair),” the animal rights group said.

“This constant pressure on their bodies can erode the tissue and bones on their back, causing irreversible damage to their spine.

“Pai Lin’s back still has scars from old bruises.”

The 71-year-old elephant was rescued from the trekking industry in Thailand in 2007 by WFFT.

She is now known as the grandmother of the 22 other elephants living in the reserve.

Elephants like Pai Lin live in the animal group’s enclosures, which span 44 hectares and are filled with trees and lakes for them to play in.

Where the back should bend to form an almost arched shape (pictured), Pai Lin’s spine caved in and collapsed after decades of tremendous strain

The group said they hope this stark image will encourage tourists not to participate in exploitative trekking industries and instead support ethical and sustainable protected areas

Tom Taylor, WFFT project manager, said: “Although elephants are known for their strength and size, their backs are not naturally designed to support weight as their spines extend upwards.

“Continued pressure on her spine from tourists can cause permanent physical damage, which can be seen in our gentle Pai Lin.”

“Most of the elephants rescued here at WFFT have endured decades of abuse,” the group said.

“Although we have never been able to understand the trauma these animals have endured in the past, at least now they can live in peace in our shelter for the rest of their lives.”

The group said they hope this stark image will encourage tourists not to get involved in exploitative trekking industries and instead opt for ethical and sustainable sanctuaries.