Two main techniques have been used for training elephants, which we may call respectively the tough and the gentle. The former method simply consists of setting an elephant to work and beating him until he does what is expected of him. Apart from any moral considerations this is a stupid method of training, for it produces a resentful animal who at a later stage may well turn man - killer. The gentle method requires more patience in the early stages, but produces a cheerful, good - tempered elephant who will give many years of loyal service.
The first essential in elephant training is to assign to the animal a single mahout who will be entirely responsible for the job. Elephants like to have one master just as dogs do, and are capable of a considerable degree of personal affection. There are even stories of half - trained elephant calves who have refused to feed and pined to death when by some unavoidable circumstance they have been deprived of their own trainer.
The system which seems to work best for elephants is to assign to them their own trainer, who will stay with them for life. Another essential factor is the establishment of a very definite place where the elephant will be trained. It should be a fairly large area, surrounded by a fence or railing, and it should be in an area where the elephant is not likely to be distracted by other animals. Elephants need to be trained to be stable in various situations, so they should be exposed to different environments. They should be trained to stand still when they are being groomed, for example, and to kneel when they are being loaded or unloaded. They should also be trained to respond to commands given in different ways, such as by voice, by whistle, or by a tug on a rope.
Elephants are very intelligent animals, and they can be trained to perform a wide variety of tasks. They can be trained to carry heavy loads, for example, or to work in the logging industry. They can also be trained to perform in circuses, where they can show off their strength and agility. However, it is important to note that elephants are wild animals, and they should be treated with respect and care. Training elephants should be a process that is based on positive reinforcement, rather than on punishment or coercion.