Elephant Nature Park (Thailand)

One of the highlights of our trip so far is the 3 days and 2 nights we spent at the Elephant Nature Park about 1 hour north of Chiang Mai. Currently it houses 28 elephants, most of which have been abused in the domestic elephant business in Thailand. Only those born in the Park have been spared from the abuse their parents endured. Please click on Elephant Nature Park to visit their website

The elephants themselves are amazing creatures. Even in the 3 days we were there we could already see and appreciate their different personalities. It was a very rare experience to co-exist with them and participate in feeding them and bathing them in the nearby river. There were no cages, just a healthy dose of respect for the animal’s personal space. We were also fortunate enough to make the trek up to the park’s “Elephant Haven” where a different group of the elephants are taken every few days and released over night into the jungle to graze and move around as they wish. The next morning we located them in the jungle and took them back to the Park. It isn’t always easy to locate an elephant in the jungle. For such large animals they can be amazingly quiet with their padded feet. Before you know it an elephant can sneak up behind you and scare the living daylights out of you!

Here is picture of Wade feeding one of the elephants.






And here’s Shari & I participating in bath time.






My favourite experience was playing with a 2 month old baby elephant, who already weighed over 100 kgs! He was still finding his legs and would often lose his balance and have to use his trunk in order to push himself up. The best part is that late in the afternoon he would get a playful streak and part from his mom and auntie to play with us. He would wrestle with us and try and push us over (many times succeeding). His curiosity would get the better of him and his trunk would reach out and grab your arm or hand trying to pull you along. It was truly a magical experience. Here is one of his ill footed moments.

It wasn’t all fun and games by the way. Here is Wade working hard at sorting the food in preparation for elephant lunch.





The most disappointing part about the Park is that it is kept very much under wraps by the local tourist industry. Unless you have gone to some lengths to understand the elephant trekking industry in Thailand or have been in contact with people who have been to the Park, you could easily be misinformed about the plight of elephants in Thailand.

Elephants are revered by the Thai people. They are considered holy animals and are greatly respected for their role in building the country. Strangely enough, they suffer horrific abuse in being domesticated. Many tourists unwittingly contribute to the continued abuse of these animals by partaking in the elephant rides and shows, or by paying to take pictures and feed the animals in the city streets.

This is one of my favourite pictures…even an elephant needs to have a break every once and a while to ponder life!





Here is picture of Max, the largest elephant at the Park and one of the largest elephants in Thailand (Asian elephants are much smaller than their African counterparts). Max’s mahout, Carl, is walking in front of him.


The Park’s goal is to educate tourists and Thai’s alike that the Asian Elephant is facing severe extinction (it is estimated that there are only 2,500 left in Thailand and only 500 of these are in the wild) and that the traditional custom of violence into submission is an unnecessary evil. All of the Mahouts at the park take care of the residing elephants without violence and are trying to lead a movement by example.

Here is a picture of some playful frolicking. Hope, the young elephant, is known for his antics around the Park. Like any mischievous young boy he reeks havoc around the Park by pestering and provoking those much older and bigger than himself.


And finally, here is another photo of Hope after bath time. Happy as a clam!