Back in May 2013, I spent the day at Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Prior to visiting Thailand, I (like most people) had the romantic dream of riding an elephant through the jungle (barefoot, tanned skin, hair swept up in a boho-chic headband… just like all those magical photos on Pinterest!)
Something just didn’t click with me, though. There was something in those elephants’ eyes that was sullen, wistful.
I remember coming across some sort of travel documentary, which included clips of young elephants being yanked around downtown Bangkok, working the streets for money in exchange for photos or tricks. It made me want to take a look into other ‘elephant’ experiences I could partake in in Thailand, and how I could support something ethical.
I came across Elephant Nature Park‘s website. I read their mission statement, and knew I wanted to support their sanctuary.
And I’m so glad I did.
At ENP, I was enlightened about the ‘elephant crush’ process: a heartbreaking routine where a wild elephant is physically and mentally tortured for months on end, until their spirit is broken, allowing them to be submissive to humans in the workforce (logging) and tourism industry (riding treks, circus, etc.) We watched a video presentation which brought us all to tears. I never really thought about it before – but how else are you supposed to communicate to a wild, nonverbal animal that weighs between 5-14,000 lbs, to get them to be obedient? It made me realize that those ‘elephant whisperer’ Buddhist monks probably didn’t get atop the largest land mammal through divine intervention.
Along comes Lek Chailert, founder of ENP, an 800 hectare sanctuary for elephants (hundreds of dogs and cats, too!) who have been unfathomably abused for decades. Lek and her dedicated team and volunteers work tirelessly to protect Asian elephants – which are drastically disappearing (there are approximately 5,000 elephants left in Thailand, down from 25,000 a decade ago, and 100,000 a century ago, due to poaching, loss of habitat, and other human-related endeavours). Despite the elephant’s ‘sacred’ status in Thai culture, little is done to protect these endangered gentle giants.
Amidst so many atrocities, there was so much goodness and hope at ENP.
At ENP, visitors do not ride elephants. I spent the day learning about, frolicking with, bathing, and feeding my new pals. And I came home with the biggest glowing smile plastered to my face. (To top it all off, the huge spread they provided for lunch was all VEGAN!)
If you, or anyone you know, are thinking of visiting SE Asia and riding elephants, PLEASE DO YOUR RESEARCH beforehand, and consider Elephant Nature Park.
As a guest in a new community, it is crucial to do our research in order for there to be a more equal exchange between us and our host – the locals, wildlife/animals, and environment. We won’t always make ‘perfect’ decisions in our travels, and each of us has our own values. So, do your own research, make decisions you are proud of, and enjoy the adventure!
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