Warning - wild elephants and wild animals can be dangerous

Elephants on clothes bought in Thailans.

Elephant visit, popular.

Elephant statue at hotel in Thailand

Elephant motif in reception of hotel in Thailand.

Elephant in the street.
 

We have fond memories of furry toys as children. Baby bears, elephants giving rides, even smiley crocodiles. The elephant is the national symbol of Thailand. I have clothes with elephant symbols. I have jewellery depicting elephants.

Wild Animals

But wild animals can be dangerous. They want food, including yours, such as sandwiches left in cars, or carried in carrier bags - especially if other tourists feed wild animals, but you bring food which they can smell but you are not willing to share. Just as many human mothers would protect their babies from an approaching strange snake, dog, or elephant, animals such as bears, tigers, crocodiles and elephants seek food, or protect their own young when unknown life approaches.

Wild Monkeys

So monkeys may snatch food and hats, or simply attack. They get into flats in Singapore, destroying furniture and furnishings. 

Wild elephants can be dangerous, not just the bggest, strongest males, but also females, wanting to frighten off or disarm approaching humans when their are baby elephants around. 

Poachers taking tusks and trophies would exascerbate the danger to tourists simply taking photos.

Guides And Safety

In theory local guides should know where animals roam and how to avoid being seen, and how to protect you from attack.

I recall going on a safari. We were warned to stay inside the vehicle. No arms out of the window holding camers. Arms of humans to wild elephants, look like insect legs to humans, tell the onlooker that something alive and smaller is moving about. Attract attention even from a distance by sudden movement.

Danger From Elephants

Apparently, as evident to me from a video, tourists were attacked, when they had been on canoes paddled like gondolas.

A canoe offers less protection and disguise than I would like in wild animal territory. Once out of a canoe, you have less protection.

A cat has whiskers. Motocades have outriders. Miners carried canaries. 

I am wondering whether out in the wild one could send something ahead. Up in the air, looking, like a drone.  Moving independently ahead, ike a child's  fist size car on wheels which can be pushed along a nursery floor and then races under its own stream, I meant steam, until it hits a wall.

Tourists tend to trust guides. Guides are supposed to take you to see animals, but keep you at a safe distance. But unless a wild animal is kept away, you are exposed..

Protection From Wild Animals

How can a wilkd animal can be kept away? In zood for photos, a wild animal can be kept on a chain, with a keeper holding it, a keeper with a weapon. 

Or in zoos kept away by a blockage such as a fence. At Singapore's night Safari by a deep ditch. With tourists behind trees, fences, or inside the walls of a windowed train. 

The news and the internet can entertain, and warn.

Useful Websites

Daily Mail 29 Feb Sept 2025 Video of elephant changing and hitting trunk on tourist tipped out of boat in Botswana.

 

Donna Carmela Italian Restaurant in Singapore

One of my favourite restaurants in Singapore is Frateli, which is very expensive and all the dishes are chosen by the chef. On weekends it is very busy and despite the high prices you will be lucky to get a table and must book. Only a few doors along is Donna Carmela, the opposite, you see exactly what you are getting at the buffet lunch and so you can choose exactly what you want. Whilst not cheap, it is cheaper and good value. The Sunday lunch is $S79++ (add service and tax).

Prices vary according to whether you want the free flow of sparkling white Prosecco/red wine/white wine.

Starter buffet is a meal in itself. Smoked salmon, polenta, potato croquettes, pasta, green vegetables, melon and a wonderful tomato tart in light bread with the tiny cheery tomatoes like traffic lights.

Seated at the table so you don't have to jump up again, you are afterwards served a pasta dish and a main course. The pasta came with mussels and Im allergic to shellfish to they made be Carbonara, which is bacon in cream sauce.

Next main plate is a mixture of fish (salmon) and chicken. (Actually I preferred the buffet starters and could have done without the main courses, but they did mean we could sit chatting without interruption.





The dessert was a wonderful selection of desserts plus cheeses and hot bread.

At the back is the cool temperature controlled area where the cheese and wine are kept. You can look through the glass and see the cheese being cut.



Who is Donna Carmela? The sister-in-law of the man in charge.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author, speaker.