Elephant Nature Park – Chiang Mai, Thailand

Tourist: elephant killer my new job!

The title is there and it says it all. How many times do I see tourists in Asia say to themselves: “That’s great, we’re going to ride on the back of an elephant”. Have you asked yourself whether the elephant thinks the same thing as you? Don’t you care? Very good, your children and grandchildren will no longer even know what an elephant is. You will be responsible at your level by participating in the massacre of their health. Perhaps this is ultimately the man who must disappear? The ancestor of the elephant was there before us and after all why not imagine a world without selfish men incapable of understanding the issues. So react, because it’s not too late.

Elephant Nature Park, an oasis of hope in Thailand for the world

Elephant nature park was created by Lek, a Thai woman campaigning for the well-being of pachyderms and unfortunately frowned upon by Thai men. Lek has been fighting for years with his team of professional volunteers to buy elephants that are sick, mistreated, or even too tired from the work imposed by the mahout. Elephant Nature park explains to you during your visit that your money will be used well for the elephants but also to finance equipment, staff, food for the elephants and also to save other elephants again. The Asian elephant is fragile. Some people will think that an Elephant is strong and this is true in the short term, but if you abuse its strength, it will become sick and weak. As in all of Asia, the elephant is an animal which represents a means of doing work in the forest, a means of transport, or even a gain of money when it is killed for its ivory tusks.

Protection against ivory trafficking at the park

Ivory is still quoted at €50,000 per kilo. To also fight against all temptations, Elephant nature park has tuskless elephants. Elephant Nature Park also offers much higher salaries in Thailand to its staff to avoid any betrayals and ensure that caring for an elephant is more profitable than killing it. Do you see how fragile the balance is in this universe? It only takes a single thing for an elephant to disappear from the planet. So yes, Elephant nature park is a business for you at first glance, but it is out of obligation to save the elephants. Do you think the mahouts will hand over their elephants with a simple phrase: “I will help your elephant get better, give it to me”. If so, you are in the wrong world. The park faces multiple obstacles including this one. There are also these scammers who try to take back their elephants by trickery after receiving payment from the park.

Thai men have no respect at all for elephants and they are their slaves. For what ?  It is an ancestral tradition which dictates the behavior of mahouts or apprentice mahouts. Fortunately, mentalities are slowly changing with young Thai people who want to learn the mahout profession. They are becoming more and more aware that an elephant is a wild animal that must be respected.

A visit of one day or one week: a donation to the park.

Elephant Nature park offers paid volunteering activities. “How did that pay? And yes you can be a volunteer and have to pay for your stay at the same time “We must not forget that the battle is 90% financial. In fact, if you were to participate in a music festival in Europe, you would not have to pay anything as a volunteer. We will even ask you to invite your friends. But this type of volunteering at Elephant nature park has an issue to save, namely the elephants. At a music festival, there is nothing to save or steal.

The park therefore offers stays of 7 days to several weeks at prices starting at 12,000 baths, i.e. approximately €300. But you can simply do a day which will cost you 2000 baths or around €50. A day for an initial approach, that’s what I recommend to help save Asian elephants. The veterinarians and teams of caretakers on site will be at your disposal for any questions if you want to know where your money will go. I recommend that you stop by the office which is located in downtown Chiang Mai. Now that you know a little more with this article which only superficially addresses the problem of elephants, I still wish you a magical moment with them and a good visit to you. Elephant nature park is one of a kind and worth a visit.

Elephant nature park office address in Chiang Mai:

• Elephant nature park office
• Ratchamanka Rd, Tambon Phra Sing, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand
• +66 53 272 855
• Otherwise click on the Google search link here to access maps and the Google mybusiness page.