S4|EP3 ~ Captive Elephants of Asia: The Hidden Crisis Behind Elephant Conservation with Larry Laverty

The Think Wildlife Podcast

Across Asia, nearly one in three elephants lives in captivity—used in temples, tourism, logging, and religious festivals. In this powerful episode of the Think Wildlife Podcast, Canadian photographer and elephant conservation advocate Larry Laverty joins host Anish Banerjee to shed light on the suffering of captive elephants and the urgent need for elephant conservation across both Asia and Africa.

Larry Laverty’s remarkable journey began with his first book Power and Majesty, which documented the African elephant and exposed the brutal realities of the ivory trade and wildlife crime driving their decline. Traveling across ten African countries, he captured the spirit of wild elephants and the people striving to protect them. His second book, The Majestic Humanity and the Asian Elephant, turns the lens toward Asian elephants, revealing how centuries of human use—from temple elephants to those exploited in logging and tourism—have shaped their tragic fate.

In this conversation, Larry explains how his camera became a tool of empathy and activism. Through conservation photography, he documents not just the beauty but the suffering of elephants—images that demand global attention to animal welfare, animal rights, and the moral questions surrounding captive elephants. He recalls heartbreaking encounters, including a baby elephant orphaned during illegal logging, and discusses the cruel realities behind elephant rides and festival processions.

The discussion also highlights promising alternatives like robotic elephants being introduced in India’s temples, offering a humane replacement for live elephants used in ceremonies. Larry shares how he personally contributed funds for one such robotic elephant, symbolizing a new era of compassionate conservation that honors culture without perpetuating animal abuses.

The episode explores deeper cultural, ecological, and ethical contrasts between African and Asian elephant conservation. While African elephants remain largely wild, human-elephant relationships in Asia stretch back nearly 5,000 years, complicating efforts to end captivity. Larry emphasizes that saving elephants means reimagining this bond—through education, empathy, and stronger laws against illegal wildlife trade, ivory trafficking, and elephant poaching.

He also discusses the potential for rewilding captive elephants, citing encouraging examples from Laos where rescued elephants are gradually returned to the wild. Yet, he warns that without stronger land protection and political will, true freedom for these elephants remains a distant dream.

This episode is a tribute to elephants—creatures of immense intelligence and empathy—and to those fighting to protect them. It’s also a call to listeners to act: avoid elephant rides, support ethical sanctuaries, advocate for animal welfare laws, and amplify the voices working to end exploitation.

Larry Laverty’s words remind us that elephant conservation is more than protecting a species—it’s about redefining humanity’s relationship with nature. By choosing empathy over entertainment and awareness over ignorance, we can help ensure that elephants, whether African or Asian, live the lives they were meant to—wild and free.

Watch now to explore the untold stories behind captive elephants, the courage of photographers on the frontlines of conservation, and the hope that drives global efforts to protect these majestic beings.

About the Host

Anish Banerjee is an early career ecologist, with a MSc in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation from Imperial College London. He is the founder of Think Wildlife Foundation and a biodiversity policy analyst at Legal Atlas. He is also the author of the following field guides:

Field Guide to the Common Wildlife of India: https://amzn.in/d/2TnNvSE

Field Guide to the Mammals of Singapore: https://amzn.in/d/gcbq8VG

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