Visiting "The Elephant Nature Park"... A Sanctuary in Northern Thailand: "To Save the Asian Elephant begins with our Awareness of their plight"... The Facts about Elephant Painting (Painting Elephants), what is really going on behind the scenes?

Asia » Thailand » North-West Thailand » Chiang Mai
February 5th 2008

Published: December 28th 2007

9/5/08: Refer to the end of this entry re: specific information about Elephant Painting (information you need to know) and a current update regarding the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park (related, in part, to Elephant Painting): 12/28/07: Entry prior to leaving on this trip: After leaving Varanasi to Delhi, an early morning flight will take me back to Thailand. Again, I will stay a night in ... Read Full Entry

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Cathy Rosewell Jonas

Elephant Dreamer

This blog shares travel stories, writing, and narrations about spirituality and opening the heart to life. It includes some details from my three trips to India (in 2005, 2006, and 2008), other travels, organizations that are helping elephants (and the Dancing Bears), and even shares the secret of "How to Find Yourself" in India. Cathy Rosewell Jonas: As a fellow traveler on the spiritual journey, I am sharing what I have learned about opening the heart to life. My book "Bringing Home the Mountain, Finding the Teacher Within" available now for pre-ordering: http://www.freeheartpress.... full info

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Our river crossing to the Elephant Heaven trail

Following BK up to Elephant Haven

Sacred Trees

Once blessed cloth is tied around a tree, it is considered sacred and bad karma to cut it down. Lek has encouraged this practice, and is trying to save as many trees that create and sustain forest land as possible. I wish our Western Cultures respected sacred ribbons on trees... if only it could be that easy.

Elephant Heaven lodge for the night

Free to roam for the night

Finding elephants in the morning at Elephant Heaven

More elephants to find

Walking down from the Haven the next morning

Eles leading us down the mountain

Saving trees as we walked down the mountain

Picturesque

Going in for another mud bath

The landmine accident has not slowed her in being part of the largest family group

Jokia, the blind elephant

Her owners deliberately blinded her in their belief that she would be controlled better. Her baby was killed in the process of her working and trying to give birth at the same time- the story gets worse from there.

Landmine victim

The accident happened near the Thai-Burma border. She was then used for street begging when she was unable to work.

Family enjoying another mud bath

The story of the One-Tusker

At night, poachers came and used a chain saw to remove his once large, impressive tusks. Now, he battles with infections in his mouth and needs close medical monitoring.

Layers of elephants

The story of Medo

Made to work logging when she was too young, resulted in her being injured by a log. The owners figured she was still young enough to breed even with a deformed leg. Unfortunately, this type of forced breeding can result in injuries as it did in Medo's case. She was left with a badly fractured pelvis, yet the owners still put her back to work to pull small logs. Fortunately, Lek found her. She will now spend the rest of her days at the sanctuary.

Motherly Love

Peek a Boo with Max the Elephant

The story of Max: He is one of the tallest known Asian Elephants. He has been used during ceremonies, as a working elephant doing a variety of services, including being used for street begging. His life on the streets were very difficult, and left him severely injured when he got hit by a very large truck (which is one of the dangers of working as a street elephant). Now he roams the park, when he is not in musth... and will spend the rest of his life here in peace.

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Visiting "The Elephant Nature Park"... A Sanctuary in Northern Thailand: "To Save the Asian Elephant begins with our Awareness of their plight"... The Facts about Elephant Painting (Painting Elephants), what is really going on behind the scenes?

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