Elephant Nature Park

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The last week has been truly amazing. I have been waking up at 6 a.m. every morning, shovelling buffalo shit, hauling elephant grass up and down hills, turning soil, planting trees, cutting bamboo, fixing wooden platforms, and most importantly - interacting with 31 elephants. I think I've lost about ten pounds and I now am certain I can do anything. It has been a week of manual labor with the greatest payoff being these magnificent creatures. I could sit and watch them for days. The park - Elephant Nature Park was started by a Thai woman named Lek (which means small in Thai) who may just be the most compassionate person I have met in a very long time. It is a sanctuary for elephants who have been mistreated, abused, and used for tourism, farming, and illegal logging. Some of the elephants have severe psychological problems and others physical. But all of them have maintained their dignity because they have been fortunate enough to stay here at the park. Here they can just be elephants. I have been lucky enough to be able to help feed and bathe them and to get to know their individual personalities. I'm having trouble writing about this experience right now. It has been emotionally intense being so close to these animals and getting to know them and having to leave so soon. I will write more another time. Right now I'm going to let my pictures do most of the talking for me.

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Photos

feeding the elephants
The elephants are fed from this main platform. It is amazing how each elephant has different preferences and habits. Some are slow and methodical, others are picky eaters, and some can't put enough in their mouths.

Mahout village
B.K. is the large bull standing in front of the area where the mahouts live. Each elephant has its own mahout and they all practice positive reinforcement with the elephants. There is no violence used at the park. B.K. is currently kept away from the other elephants because he is going through must - which is a hormonal surge that can make male elephants highly aggressive and dangerous.

bathing
Bath time is at the river and most of the elephants love to be splashed and scrubbed. Afterwards they spread dirt over their backs to protect their sensitive skin.

kisses
One of the babies at the park is being taught commands through positive reinforcement - once it follows the command correctly it is rewarded. In this case it gives out a kiss with it's trunk and recieves a piece of bread.

elephant haven
The elephant Haven is a camp way up in the jungle where the elephants can roam freely and eat the wild herbs that grow there. They instinctually know which ones to eat for any of their particular ailments - be it upset stomach or parasites.

Lek's Birthday
The people who live in the village gave Lek this painting for her birthday. It tells a story.

bath time 2
I feel like this picture shows how strong the bond can be between elephant and mahout. Neither one even has to think about what they are doing - it has just become second nature.

Comments

[janet Shulman]

WOW! What an experience. Aren't you lucky to have had it. That baby elephant is the cutest and the mahout is hot!

[Lydia]

HEY
WOW! That is awesome! I love elephants. :o)