The elephant is the national emblem of Thailand. An animal that represents strength, protection and wisdom. Such is its importance in the Asian country that for a time it was the main figure of its flag and even Buddhist traditions maintain that a princess named Maya dreamed that a white elephant entered her body. The sages of the time translated it as the future birth of a redeemer of humanity. Princess Maya was the mother of Buddha.
But its relevance is not only political or spiritual but also economic. For centuries it has been used as a transport, as a draft animal and as a tool in agricultural tasks, performing the same functions as in other places horses or oxen did. Even today it is possible to see elephants working in fields inaccessible to modern technology.
However, these uses have sometimes led to the over-exploitation and mistreatment of these animals. Many people are unaware of the damage they suffer from it, so spaces such as the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai in Thailand have emerged to rescue and protect them. A place that can be visited and with which you can collaborate in different ways to take care of these beautiful and intelligent elephants. If you are interested in collaborative tourism, you cannot miss the following post. A unique experience for animal lovers in a wonderful environment!
Knowing the work of Elephant Nature Park
What is Elephant Nature Park?
It is one of the most popular pachyderm sanctuaries in Thailand. It is known for being a camp dedicated to the care of elephants (although they also welcome dogs and cats rescued from the streets as well as buffalo) equipped with all the comforts so that they can recover.
Elephant Nature Park was born for this purpose in 1990 and has since received numerous awards for its work. In addition, they have proposed to be not only a refuge for abused animals but also a center for raising awareness about other problems such as deforestation of forests or the preservation of local cultures., favoring the employment and consumption of local products.
Where is Elephant Nature Park located?
It is located in northern Thailand, about 80 kilometers from the city of Chiang Mai, which in turn is located 700 kilometers from Bangkok.
Chiang Mai is known as The Rose of the North for its incredible natural beauty and interesting cultural activity. Here you will find more than 300 Buddhist temples, the Doi Inthanon National Park, the sacred mountains of Doi Suthep and Doi Pui and the famous pachyderm sanctuary.
What kind of animals live in Elephant Nature Park?
There are two species of elephants: the African and the Asian, although each one is made up of different subspecies. However, they work only with Thai pachyderms at the sanctuary.
It is estimated that around 3.000 to 4.000 elephants live in Thailand. About half are domesticated and the rest live in nature reserves.
What ways of visiting the park exist?
For those who want to know Elephant Nature Park, they should know that they can do it by various modalities, mainly visitor or volunteer, and each of them has its own characteristics.
There are visits for hours, for a day, for several days or for a week and each one has a different price. Among the activities that can be carried out are to see the elephants bathe, feed them, take a walk through the reserve, meet local communities or learn about nature and agriculture, among other things.
How can you collaborate with the reservation?
Through financial donations, collaborating as a volunteer and disseminating the work carried out by Elephant Nature Park through social networks.
Other elephant reserves in Chiang Mai
Elephant Nature Park is not the only refuge for pachyderms in this town. Other good alternatives are:
- The Baan Chang Elephant Park: Allow more interaction with animals, especially during bathing and riding without a chair.
- The Patara Elephant Farm: It is not the cheapest but it also allows you to interact more with the elephants.
Other cultural activities related to elephants
Royal Elephant Museum Bangkok
Royal Elephant Museum Bangkok
In the capital of Thailand is the Royal Elephant Museum dedicated to publicizing the importance of this animal as a symbol of the country and some of the most unknown aspects of elephants such as their life expectancy, their character, their diet, their population. , etc.
Surin Festival
Since the 60s, a festival dedicated exclusively to the elephant has been celebrated in Thailand. Its purpose is to raise funds to ensure the survival of pachyderms and caregivers. Parades and competitions around the figure of the elephant are held for several days in the Surin region.