Australian tourist slammed for sharing photos with elephants in Bali

Australian tourist in Bali is ruthlessly trolled by animal activists after sharing her ‘beautiful experience’ with elephants – but she fires back

  • Australian slammed after sharing photos riding and washing an elephant in Bali 
  • The tourist fired back and said her ‘good experience was all that mattered’ 
  • She said she believed animals had been properly looked after and were well fed 

An Australian tourist has been ruthlessly trolled after sharing photos of herself riding and washing an elephant during a trip to Bali.

Steph, 27, from Melbourne, posted the photos of her ‘beautiful experience’ at an animal attraction park in Klungkung on Saturday. 

She said she believed the animals had been properly looked after and were well fed.

But the tourist came under fire with many slamming her for promoting the attraction.

Steph (pictured) shared a series of photos of her washing and riding an elephant to Facebook

‘I had one of the most beautiful experience with this elephant in Bali, if travelling to Bali put this on your to do list must!’ Steph wrote on Facebook.

‘We got to wash her, got sprayed by her got to ride her and then we got to feed her some fruit. It cost $84 but it was well worth it, would do it again in a heart beat.’

After sharing the post, Steph was bombarded with abusive comments.  

‘Ignorant tourists need to know that it’s not OK,’ someone else commented.

‘Yeah, f**k the elephants. So long as you had a good time. F**king bogans alright,’ a third wrote. 

‘Google ”elephant crushing”. Did you ever wonder how these animals are so tame? Nice to know that the only thing you care about is your own experience,’ yet another said.

Steph said she had one of the most 'beautiful experiences' as she rode the animals (pictured)

Steph said she had one of the most ‘beautiful experiences’ as she rode the animals (pictured)

Many people slammed the tourist for promoting the activity where in some cases elephants are mistreated by their trainers

Many people slammed the tourist for promoting the activity where in some cases elephants are mistreated by their trainers

But Steph told Daily Mail Australia she believed the elephants had not been mistreated.

‘I’m not sure why I got so much backlash the elephants in Bali are amazing,’ she said.

‘They were so happy and well fed and definitely not mistreated. 

‘My experience with them was the one of the best days I’ve ever had, they were so gentle and so calm.’

Steph said she was disappointed after receiving so many abusive comments, some of which were too vulgar to publish. 

‘I just wanted other people to see that you can have a really good time there,’ she said.

‘I’d like to tell them to p**s off and get a life and if they don’t have anything nice to say then just move on and keep your opinions to yourself.’

Others defended her on the Facebook post, with another woman writing she had a similar experience at the animal park.

Steph said she believed the animals at the park had been cared for and hadn't been mistreated by the trainers

Steph said she believed the animals at the park had been cared for and hadn’t been mistreated by the trainers

‘This doesn’t look like animal cruelty to me, and if they cared as much as they say, they can fund an organisation to stop it instead of complaining about it,’ one person wrote.

‘We loved this place. The elephants are really cared for and are very happy,’ another said.

‘We spoke to staff there and did our research before going and we were 100% confident that there is no cruelty at all.’

The use of elephants for entertainment in Asia is a contentious issue.   

The World Animal Protection organisation estimated that 3,000 elephants are being used for entertainment throughout Asia, with 77 per cent being inhumanely treated.

At some attraction parks, elephants in captivity are often captured as babies and are physically abused by their trainers.

In the worst cases, they are hit with bullhooks, chained up in isolation in small enclosures and forced to perform for tourists on a daily basis.

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest animals are mistreated at the attraction Steph visited on Saturday.  

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk