It's the "culture" of abuse that tourists support:
"...baby elephants were sold to middlemen who tortured and tamed them before selling them to tourism operators for more than $7000. He said tourists who visited Thai elephant camps were "effectively supporting the killing and torture of wild-born elephants."
http://bit.ly/w2rykL
The only way to tame an elephant is through phajaan:
http://bit.ly/A9X2ZF
Someone else asked your question. Answer here:
http://bit.ly/HWJPKt