Lek's Elephant Nature Camp! - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Happy Holidays!!! We are in full relaxation mode here in Auburn, AL, we got back to the states a few days ago, and we've been busy updating the blog. I can't believe this was only a week ago.

After Louang Prabang, we sold our bikes, and got back in the bus... all the way to Pai. A very relaxed place in N. Thailand... a very different feel from S. Thailand btw (and cheaper to boot). A small town, but a big destination for those following the banana pancake trail. We suffered the bus ride with Miriam, rented scooters (2$ a day!), went to a few yoga sessions, and took a cooking class. That's Kimbo, Tee, and Meee

But on this entry I want to bring awareness to a situation that most folks probably don't know about... we certainly didn't... and as the traveller I feel the obligation to spread awareness... that sorta off-sets our carbon footprint right? (at least in a karmic way, I trust)

And it has to do with the Asian Elephant... and who doesn't like Elephants... I mean they may not be not as cool as monkeys (debatable), but definitely more than kangaroos or koalas.

We visited Elephant Nature Park (another great recommendation by the Dirt Cricket...) just north of Chiang Mai. And we had no idea, but Asian Elephants are in need of some serious rehab.

Here's the basic problem... Elephants were domesticated for use in the farming and logging industry. There were an estimated 100,000 domesticated elephants in 1900. Today there are only 3,000 domestic elephants remaining with another 500-1,500 estimated in the wild!!! There are numerous issues, but a major one is that logging became illegal now (a good step as it created massive landslides... and also destroyed habitat for wild elephants... the domesticated elephants were destroying the wild elephant's habitat).

So many elephants were out of a job. And many Mahouts (the elephant keeper) had no choice but to abandon their elephant or to take them to the streets to go beg... (yeah, seriously... see the video from National Geo link below).

Many of the abandoned elephants foraged for food in the near by farm. Most folks in Thailand are still farmers... meaning they depend solely on their single crop yield for their annual income. And the abandoned domesticated elephants, who don't know how to survive in the wild ate their single source of income for the year. It's like placing all your eggs in one basket and a hungry elephant came and made a big 'ole omelet... you'd be angry too... but quite often these elephants were killed by farmers.

The Elephant Nature Park was started by Sangduen "Lek" Chailert. Quite an inspirational lady, she's devoted her whole life to saving elephants. She's received a lot of press the past few years and was one voted one of Asia's Heroes in 2005 by Time magazine. Read more about here here if you are interested.

I encourage y'all to check out this short (20 min?) National Geographic Video (if you have decent internet connection) it features Lek and explains some of the problems associated with Domesticated Elephants in present day Thailand. We saw the full video, but you get the jist of the problems.

On a one day visit to the Elephant Nature Park, you get to feed the elephant, bath them, and learn a lot about them from your guide and some documentaries they show during your visit. You can also spend multiple nights there (there are nice accommodations), as well as volunteer or intern for longer. There were many volunteers at the park, from kids just out of college to families. There's always work to be done, as elephants can eat to 150-170 kg a day.... and that's a LOT of bananas + foraging.

Check out their tooth!

Every elephant in the park has a story... from saving orphaned elephants or famished elephants who have been left by their mahout. There are two babies in the park currently, and another one on its way. The pregnant mother had a part of it's back leg blown off after stepping on a land mine.


This girl is blind after having her eyes stabbed by a mahout who got frustrated after she refused to work... 2 days after her newborn baby died. An older female elephant decided to take her under and now they're inseparable.

On top of her 34 rescued elephants, Lek has come to adopt many cows, over 50 dogs, 10+ cats so the place is a heaven for animal lovers.

Visiting the Elephant Nature Park was a highlight for us on the trip. I think it's a must visit for anyone headed to Chiang Mai.