More Than a Ride: Pai Lin’s Story Touched My Heart
When I first read Pai Lin’s story, I felt a mix of sadness and anger. It’s heartbreaking to imagine such a gentle and intelligent animal suffering for over 25 years—just so tourists could enjoy a few minutes of fun. While people smiled and took photos, Pai Lin carried heavy loads, step after step, in silence. Her pain was invisible to many, but very real.
What shocked me most was the lasting damage done to her body. A deep dent in her spine… swollen legs… open wounds. These are not just physical injuries—they are signs of years of abuse and exhaustion. Pai Lin never had a choice. She was forced to serve, day after day, while no one listened to her suffering. It made me realize how easily we can ignore the pain of others, especially animals who cannot speak.
But then, her story took a beautiful turn. In 2007, Pai Lin was rescued and finally given the freedom she deserved. That moment filled me with hope. I imagined her walking slowly through green fields, feeling the grass under her feet and the sun on her back—this time without a saddle or chains. It reminded me that healing is possible, even after years of hurt.
Pictured: Elephant riding in Thailand.
Elephant left with caved in spine after decades of tourists riding on back.
Shocking pictures show the devastating impact carrying tourists for decades has made to a retired elephant’s health.
Pai Lin spent over 25 years in Thailand’s trekking industry, forced to give rides for up to six tourists at a time.
The result on her body has been disastrous with her spine now visibly deformed, in pictures shared by her rescue centre, Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT).
“Pai Lin’s spine, which should naturally be rounded and raised, is caved in and sunken from the heavy weight of repeated work,” Tom Taylor, Project Director at WFFT, told Jam Press.
These physical deformations are common in elephants used for tourist rides, according to WFFT, who released the photos of Pai Lin to help raise awareness of how elephants can suffer as part of the riding industry.
Elephants used for trekking often spend full days carrying the weight of their mahout (handler), groups of tourists, and a heavy howdah (seat).
This continuous pressure on their bodies can deteriorate the tissue and bones on their back, causing irreversible physical damage to their spines.
Pai Lin’s back bears scars from old pressure points.
Tom said: “While elephants may be known for their strength and size, their backs are not naturally designed to carry weight, as their spines extend upwards.
“Constant pressure on their backbones from tourists can result in permanent physical damage, which can be seen in our resident Pai Lin.”
Described as the grandma of WFFT’s elephant refuge, Pai Lin, now around 71 years old, was rescued by the sanctuary back in 2007.
The charity looks after her along with 23 other elephants, who live in the sanctuary’s 44-acre elephant enclosures and eat 300kg of food a day each.
The sanctuary is also home to over 700 other rescue animals, including primates, exotic birds, and tigers.
Tom added: “Most of the rescued elephants at WFFT have experienced decades of abuse.
“While we could never comprehend the trauma these animals have experienced in the past, at least they can now live the rest of their lives in peace at the sanctuary.
“We hope that these photos encourage tourists to do their research and support only ethical and sustainable elephant centres, while avoiding establishments that offer riding or other exploitative practices.”
Today it is estimated there are around 3,000 domestic elephants in Thailand, most of them work in the tourism or logging industries.
Meanwhile, in the wild, there are only around 2,200 individuals left, who live in open grasslands and dense rainforests spread over the country.
ENDS
Pai Lin’s story changed the way I see animal tourism. Behind many “fun” experiences, there might be silent suffering. I now believe that kindness means more than just loving animals—it means protecting them from harm. Pai Lin walks for herself now, and her journey is a powerful reminder to treat all living beings with respect and compassion.
