In many Asian nations, the use of elephants in the tourist industry is rapidly increasing. 

For a small fee, visitors have the pleasure of feeding an elephants a handful of crackers, or they can experience the adventure of riding in an ornate chair strapped to the elephant's back.

Many of the elephants employed in this way are ones that were displaced or retired from work in the lumber industry. Now they spend their days on city streets carrying tourists from around the world.  It is estimated that approximately 300 elephants are employed in this way across all of Asia.