Elephant Training
Photos from 1984
getting ready
log pulling
walking in procession with obedience to the mahout
log carrying
taking sticks from the children
child mounted
meeting the family
Elephant Nature Park
Established since my visit in 1984
Elephant Nature Park is a unique
project set in Northern Thailand. Established in the 1990's it's aim has always
been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. The park is set in
Chiang Mai Province, some 60km from the city, and has provided a sanctuary for
over 35 distressed elephants from all over Thailand. Set in a natural valley,
bordered by a river, and surrounded by forested mountains the sanctuary and
surrounding area offers a glimpse of rural life.
The founder, Sangduen Chailert (Lek), was born into a remote mountain community
in Northern Thailand in the 1960's. Her maternal grandfather was a tribal man of
the forest and Lek's jungle forays with him led to an early and organic
understanding of the wonders of nature. Against the backdrop of poverty she
obtained a university education - something practically unique considering her
circumstances.
Despite extreme financial difficulties she succeeded in founding Elephant Nature
Park along with her husband Adam in 1996.
The park is close to her home village and has been supported by their family
tour business which operates educational and environmental trips as well as a
travel website. The Elephant Nature park has the aim is to provide a sanctuary
for elephants to live in a peaceful natural environment. Lek's love of the
elephant began as a youngster. The family cared for an elephant which became a
close companion of Lek's. This affection led to working with elephants in the
forests. With a vet they provided medical care to sick elephants in remote
areas. Travel to these areas is hazardous and often involves hours of walking
narrow jungle paths inaccessible to vehicles. She is often away for days at a
time. The park's current herd includes disabled, orphans, blind and rescued,
elephants of all ages.
The elephants in the sanctuary are predominantly from private owners and
acquired from negotiated fees. Some outlived their usefulness to loggers while
others became useless to trekking camp owners. Lek's work takes her deep into
the jungles of Northern Thailand where, with the help of medical staff, she
treats tribal villagers and their families with medical care and, often, donated
clothing. Her Jumbo Express programme provides much needed care to elephants in
the jungles in Chiang Mai province and beyond.
Protection of the forests is another of her many hobbies and she had initiated a
program of saving individual trees using local Buddhist beliefs and sacred
saffron cloth to tie around each tree. Locals are reluctant to cut down these
trees fearing insults to jungle spirits.
Text from Wikipedia
