Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai

Elephants – Why Do You Have To Do Your Research

We have become passionate about travelling responsibly.  There are so many elephant tourist attractions throughout SE Asia who claim to be sustainable and humane. There is a multitude of so-called ‘Elephant Sanctuaries’.  It seems that they have all caught on to this ‘catchphrase’ and use it constantly to attract unsuspecting tourists who think they are doing the right thing by supporting these ventures.

Elephant trekking camps seem to be the most common.  You read up on what they offer and how free the elephants are to do as they please.  You arrive at some of these sanctuaries only to find that they still promote bareback riding (as if it’s better than a metal seat), chains around the animal’s legs, mahouts still carrying sharp hooks and prodders, and also the opportunity to swim and bathe with the elephants.

Although this seems quite harmless, it is still unnatural activities for elephants.  There is still an amount of human intervention and does not allow the elephants to act like they should in the wild.

Many elephants are emotional and physically harmed by humans.  They need to have time to heal and recover and this is not possible when they still have to perform for the sake of the tourist dollar.

What Makes The Elephant Nature Park Different?

The Elephant Nature Park Is located an hours drive from central Chiang Mai.  It is 250 acres and home to more than 30 rescued elephants, 300 rescued cats and about as many dogs.  I also can’t forget to mention the water buffalos that wander the grounds.

It is truly a special place to visit and get up close and personal with these magnificent elephants.  They wander either in small herds or just on their own with their mahouts.  If they are walking solo, then it is their choice to do so, usually because of the trauma they have suffered in their previous lives.

Getting up close to these amazing animals

This unique sanctuary has been established by a woman named Sangduen Chailert, better known as ‘Lek’.  She has worked tirelessly to create a refuge for injured and mistreated elephants.  The elephants now enjoy a life free from the exploitation of the logging industry and tourism.

Every Elephant Has a Sad Story to Tell

There were 9 in our tour group and we wandered the grounds with our guide and learnt the names of many of the elephants.  He told us their sad stories and it was heartwrenching learning of the abuse they suffered at the hands of humans.

Rescued from a Circus with mental illness and a severely damaged leg from forced mating with huge Bull Elephant. She has to have extensive hydrotherapy as she is unable to bear weight on her leg.

Physical Abuse

We could clearly see the physical abuse suffered, largely by work in the logging industry where they would be subjected to hours of hauling massive logs through the forests.  They are continually made to work even while heavily pregnant, resulting in terrible lifelong inflictions.  Even suffering broken limbs meant that they were continually worked, often until they dropped.  Elephants have very sensitive eyes so there were a few that had either lost an eye or were completely blind.

Mental Abuse

Then there were the elephants that were suffering mentally.  These are the elephants who have been rescued from the Elephant Trekking Camps.  The very elephants that thousands of tourists ride for fun.  They are also the elephants that put on a show to perform tricks, dance, paint and other unnatural activities.  In order for these elephants to be so compliant is to ‘break their spirit’ making them completely submissive.

(Left Pic) Totally blinded by Logging Camp, (Top Right) Baby rescued from Logging Camp with a damaged foot being cared for by Nannie, (bottom right) permanently deformed leg, made to keep working in a logging camp

These elephants would be wandering around with their mahouts and would only mix with one or two others that they had chosen to befriend.  One or two had to be placed in a massive fenced field until they felt ready to socialise.  This is for both their safety and the safety of the other elephants.

The Babies of the Park

They have a number of babies wandering around the park.  Some have been born here but others have been rescued from tourist trekking camps or logging camps.  Their mothers too sick to care for them or they are orphans.

Elephants are very caring, loving and sociable animals.  Where there is no mother, the Nannies step in to care for them like they were their own.  The Nannies are very protective and you can see that they never let those babies out of their sight for long.

Babies are well cared for by either mum or Nannies. Just like human bubs, they love dirty play.

These youngsters are no different to human toddlers.  They are cheeky and full of mischief.  It was quite comical watching them playing in the mud, then taking off in some direction, their mahouts in hot pursuit to make sure they find their way back.

The Mahouts

You will not find a single hook or prodder in the park.  The mahouts learn how to take care of the elephants without the control of a sharp hook.

Fear is one of the reasons that make humans choose force and abuse towards animals.  It is believed that it makes them listen and obey.

At the park, the mahouts establish a trust between them and their elephant.  The animals that come from trekking camps are used to anger and hooks to control them.  

We watched them direct the elephants by using their voice only.  They only direct the elephants for their own safety, making sure that they don’t mix with others that may not be so friendly.  They also encourage them to swim in the river and to point them in the direction of food.

The mahouts encourage their elephants to swim, play and eat

Making a Booking

There are many options to choose from if you are considering a visit.  Click here to see the range of activities and prices.  

We chose the Single Day Visit at the Elephant Nature Park. Click here to make an online booking.

It cost us 2,500thb/$111nz each.  This included transport from their offices in Chiang Mai, guide and lovely Thai buffet lunch.

Click on the link below to see some of our highlights.