Elephant Nature Park is a place that is especially close to my heart. A programme that I had heard about when I booked my flights in STA. Little did I know how much this place would change the way that I saw and thought about animal welfare. Countries like Thailand heavily rely on the income generated from tourists, which leads to the abuse and exploitation of such a beautiful animal.
My aim from this blog post is not to lecture or look down upon people who have ridden elephants, but if I can change at least one persons perspective on how we change the face of tourism to better the lives of these animals then I will try my best. So here goes.....
Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre in
Northern Thailand where you can volunteer and visit. The nature park have been
involved in rescuing elephants which have been abused or injured. From land mine accidents, trekking camps, circus's and logging camps. The park provides a natural sanctuary for not only elephants, but dogs, cats,
buffaloes and lots of other animals.
The lady that started this programme is called Lek. Lek (translated as 'small' in Thai) is one of the most inspirational, beautiful souls I have ever met. The way that she interacts and speaks about the elephants under her protection is with such compassion and love, I truly believe she is an angel on earth. She has devoted her life to saving the lives of these animals, giving them a voice, which without her may have never been heard.
Her aim is to change the way we interact with the elephants. No mahout at her park will ever use a bull hook or any device which would cause harm or injury to any of the animals. She uses positive re-enforcement to enable the elephants to live peacefully and at ease, without fear or stress.
No one rides any of the elephants, instead we worked together to make sure they had food provided, shelters cleaned and in the process learnt about how much it takes to care for them.
Loading the shelves with bananas for food
Washing and cooling down in the evening
Cutting down and gathering corn
Of course there was one with a war wound! Poor Liv!
Just me and some corn
My lovely group
Preparing food
The stories of the elephant lives and where they had come to before the park was heartbreaking. This elephant had been injurded on a land mine.
Many others bore the scars of their past lives and the mistreatment they had suffered. The process that the elephants have to go through to make them ready for tourists to ride is so graphic and horrific that I don't want to share any images here. But they call it breaking the soul of the elephant. Some have even been known to blind the elephants with sling shots, as a blind elephant is a submissive elephant.
It makes me wonder how many people are aware of this process that all of
the elephants have to go through to make them able to be ridden. To me
it just doesn't seem right that for our own enjoyment or 'selfie'
opportunity that these animals should carry us on there backs for hours a
day.
But there are moments like this where the elephants embrace one another to comfort each other. Letting them know that there is no danger. The emotional capacity that they show is beautiful and inspiring.
If you want to learn more about this amazing project, or even to visit it you can find information on their website here
Lek posts amazing videos and updates about the park which you can find here
I can't recommend this Elephant Nature Park enough, so please if you do go abroad and have the option to ride an elephant, think twice, we can change the future of tourism and animals lives.
If that hasn't swung you enough, here is a video of Lek sharing her magic with those lucky elephants. What a special lady.
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