https://traverpolis.com/thailands-most-ethical-way-to-visit-the-elephants Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. She's pretty sure these posts will be your cup of tea: I seek out the best, most exciting, unique, & rewarding experiences in Chiang Mai, and share them with you. Thailandâs Top 10 Amazing Animal Sanctuaries. One such sanctuary is the Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. Established in 2011 by Australian Emily and her Thai husband Burm, BEES is a much smaller, little-known sanctuary for old, injured, and retired elephants. Attractions that force an animal to exhibit an unnatural behavior. Bucket washing sounds pretty awful, but actually, I find it incredibly soothing and exciting to wash with your bucket, get dressed, and open the door to a beautiful day in the Thai countryside feeling clean and refreshed. And, its location is that of beautiful mountainous terrain. Feb 7, 2020 - Elephants in Thailand - best sanctuaries, ethical elephant parks, best elephant parks to visit in Chiang Mai and Bangkok from elephant nature park to boon Lottâs and more. Beautiful private rooms for $25.00 per night and in the heart of the city with a pool. Nevertheless, I was curious so I took the plunge and bought the $75.00 ticket. Save Elephant Foundation and Elephant Nature Park. Oh, and of course the elephants are just a short walk across a path! Considered to be a ⦠Night Market: I absolutely love the night markets in Chiang Mai. There are usually showers, but they’re often cold, and at the most basic accommodation you wash with buckets of water. There are also plenty of other Chiang Mai day trips which will give you a whole new perspective on the city. This sanctuary is located at a distance of 8 km from the village of ⦠Phuket: Mahouts were in constant play/joke/entertaining mode. May 1, 2020 - Check out my experience on the Elephant Freedom Project with Elephant Nature Park. Soon enough the air becomes thick as the elephants start throwing dirt everywhere. Elephant Nature Park runs quite a lot of ethical elephant experiences alongside local Karen villages. :), Thanks! costs x and a full-day visit is from 6 to 7 hours. Additionally, they are committed to rainforest preservation and plant acres of trees every year in an attempt to restore the balance between nature and man. A visit to Elephant Nature Park â ethical elephant sanctuary. Your email address will not be published. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Your email address will not be published. Sanctuary March 25, 2016 Leave a comment. Sangdeaun Lek Chailert was born 1961 in a small hill tribe village of Baan Lao, two hours north of Chiang Mai Thailand. Found insideAll about Elephants and How to Save Them Ashlee Brown Blewett ... Kenya Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Maiprovince, Thailand Gorongosa National Kaziranga ... We ended up researching more and more into it and decided Elephant Nature Park is 100% for us and an organization we want to donate our time and money too. The Old City is within walking distance to many beautiful temples, excellent shopping, delicious restaurants, and the famous Sunday Night Market. Think dancing monkeys and performing bears. Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai. Luckily for me, there was one once left on their Elephant Freedom Project for 2 weeks’ time. Inspired by Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is a new and final home for elephants who have worked their entire lives in the logging and tourism industry. Once back in the village we pile into the tray of a pickup truck are driven down towards the river for elephant bathing. When I first booked the Elephant Freedom Project it was a relatively new option on the Elephant Nature Park website and had only been around a couple of months. 1. Yeah that’s true especially there are a lot of place that claim to be a sanctuary, but actually mistreat their elephants. I was disappointed, but I was only going to have two and a half days in Chiang Mai, so I tried to accept it. Who knew I'd meet the love of my life on a girls night in Las Vegas? Volunteering at Elephant Nature Park (ENP) Depending on how adventurous you are, you can volunteer at the main Elephant Nature Park project, 90 minutes north of Chiang Mai, or at one of the sister projects in the Northern Thailand or Cambodia. Therefore I decided to wait with the older elephants on the sidelines. Found inside â Page 133A case study on Elephant Nature Park (ENF) in Chiang Mai, an elephant sanctuary catering to the tourism industry, examined how Western-style advocacy was ... For my first time in Thailand, I knew I wanted to book some sort of elephant experience. That meant there was not too much information available. Youâll see the Elephant Nature Park and the founder, Lek, in the video link above. The Elephant Nature Park is a rehabilitation center 60 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. Elephant Jungle Paradise Park. Full buckets of water line the bench with bushes inside for us to clean the cucumbers. Also in Chiang Mai, Elephant Nature Park is another well-known elephant conservation project since 1995. Comparing taking a [...]. 1. The team from Elephant Nature Park worked with the old trekking camp to show them how the elephants, tourists and staff all benefit from the no riding âSaddle Offâ policy. Elephant Nature Park teaches them about the importance of ethical encounters and sets rules about the doâs and donâts ensuring they are up to the high standard of the ⦠Taking a tour with Elephant Nature Park is one of the best things I did in Chiang Mai. If you are in Chiang Mai, definitely book a tour with Elephant Nature Park. 1. While there are many elephant sanctuaries that claim to be ethical, always do your research before deciding which place to visit. I spent some time in Chiang Mai and had a day at the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary which was also a great experience! Chiang Maiâs Masea Elephant Conservation Park. Located an hourâs drive outside of Chiang Mai, it is home to dozens of elephants who have been rescued from abusive circumstances or who have been injured â usually both. In addition to these majestic beasts, Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary for cats, dogs, buffaloes and animals. Found inside â Page 1This book also discusses animal liberation theory, as well as (primarily twenty-first century) efforts to put animal liberation on the public agenda. This 250-acre-park has been open since the late 90s and is now home to over 70 elephants, 400 cats and more than 600 dogs. This natural park is mainly focused on the rescue and rehabilitation of elephants. A hostel with all the amenities, from $6.00 per night. When I am back in Chiang Mai I will definitely do another tour with Elephant Nature Park. It is easy to walk into a travel agency in Chiang Mai enquiring about an ethical elephant sanctuary and they will tell you basically everything you want to hear to make the sale. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang mai, this was 2013, I am pretty sure there was ethical issues surrounding the treatment of Elephants that's why many things has change since. Established in the 1990s they have many years experience both with elephants and tourists, and a completely transparent and ethical ⦠Depending on which program you choose, volunteering gives you opportunities to care for elephants, bathe elephants, walk with elephants, learn about agriculture and community, plant trees, participate in a blessing ceremony, develop local school children learning experiences, and even live in a tribal village in the mountains of Chiang Mai. It’s great to know that tourists can still interact with these beautiful creatures without riding or harming them. It’s so wonderful that places like this exist to educate the public and protect these gorgeous creatures! If you are looking for an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai, Thailand, the parks below are all good choices. Following the success of Lek Chailert's highly acclaimed Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary is the first of its kind in Phuket and seeks to meet the highest standard in animal welfare : rescuing, retiring and rehabilitating elephants that have suffered from working in the trekking and logging industries. If so, let me know and I'll add them. These elephants have been rescued from unethical establishments to be rehabilitated back to their natural state. The staff tells us they are known for being quite aggressive towards our elephants. A trip to the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is one of the unique experiences that you can only get in Thailand. Beyond elephants, youâll find dozens of rescue cats and dogs on site. Mar 22, 2021 - Find, compare, and book sightseeing tours, attractions, excursions, things to do and fun activities from around the world. There are many tour options available. I notice that the younger elephants definitely enjoy being in the water more, basically staying in the whole time. I really wanted to do this when I was in Chiang Mai but they were all booked out. August 4, 2016 by Helen. We definitely need more of these :) Great story and photos! Chiang Mailâs Elephant Nature Park is a rescue center for elephants that have been mistreated in the various industries around Thailand. The truck arrives with more food for the elephants and they get all excited. Save money and book directly from local suppliers. I knew Elephant Nature Park would be my best option for an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai. One week volunteering with elephants at BEES runs from Monday to Sunday, and I'm waiting to hear back how much that costs. Throughout the time spent with the elephants, I did not once see them getting pressured, abused by their mahouts, or be overwhelmed by the people around them as groups were kept small. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to care for elephants, bathe elephants, walk with elephants, care for other rescued animals, plant elephant food, collect elephant food, learn how to cook Thai food, build shelters, visit a local steaming spa, learn about traditional Thai medicine, see traditional Thai weaving, teach English and more depending on what's currently needed from you. Volunteering at Elephant Nature Park (ENP) Depending on how adventurous you are, you can volunteer at the main Elephant Nature Park project, 90 minutes north of Chiang Mai, or at one of the sister projects in the Northern Thailand or Cambodia. Elephant Nature Park runs quite a lot of ethical elephant experiences alongside local Karen villages. Loved reading about your experience. No problem. In the surrounding area is a locker room to store our stuff, some bathrooms, and an eating area. Written by Dr Hayley Stainton, a tourism and aviation academic and experienced Cabin Crew member, this book has both industry and academic underpinning. The end. You can either walk between them or even hire a bicycle. The ethical parks below don't offer elephant riding or shows like trunk painting and elephant football, and they don't use bull hooks or keep their elephants chained up at night. They didn’t put seats on the elephants but we did rise them and they know a few commands. Elephant Nature Park provides a secure home for Asian elephants, many retired from a life of logging, elephant riding, and performing in shows, as well as young elephants who were born there. Visiting an elephant park in Chiang Mai is a great way to learn about elephants and interact with them. This can be a bit problematic for travelers who like to just go with the flow, but trust me it will be worth adding to your Chiang Mai Itinerary. You can stay for a shorter period tailored to your needs; four days costs 10,200 baht. And there are excellent alternatives listed below, where you can still have a magical time getting to know elephants. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai prides itself on an ethical and sustainable business model. So, if you click on it and purchase something, I get a small percentage at no extra cost to you. Most are loving the dirt bath. Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai is the most well-known elephant sanctuary in Thailand, and maybe even in the world. I honestly did not realize how many there actually were, it’s ridiculous! This fabulous book reveals the inside story of how the fight against human cruelty to animals is gradually being won and some of the surprising individuals who have helped to make this happen. Located two and a half hours from Chiang Mai, BEES "gives elephants a chance to live free and to just be elephants." Spend enough time in Thailand, and youâll learn about the dark side of elephant tourism: chains, bullhooks, torture. Though, I reckon ENP gives you the best experience so I recommend visiting there. The purpose is to encourage locals to participate in ecotourism and to show that tourists will still want to interact with their elephants even if they aren’t riding them. So I looked into a visit to Elephant Nature Park. This nature park is primarily focused on elephant rescue and rehabilitation. The owner Lek is inspirational, small, and sings lullabies to her herd of over 70 elephants. The main purpose of missions that offer animal encounters should be reintroduction of the animal into the wild. For more than 20 years, Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand has set the standard for the ethical treatment of elephants, and is now lovingly caring for 84 rescued elephants. Still, I was hopeful that I could have a genuinely ethical trip to a real elephant sanctuary in Thailand, and so we went to the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai. Sounds like it’s a great experience. One week volunteering with elephants at Elephant Nature Park costs 12000 to 15000 baht, or 5000 baht with dogs. After touching base to Thailand, sightseers will see huge amounts of elephant riding commercials. None of the elephants are forced in and once they are over swimming they walk on out and hang around on the river bank. We head off the road to a large paddock area surrounded by fallen trees, dry grass from the heat, and a rolling landscape. I have such a respect and love for all elephants, and love reading about other’s encounters with them. Chiang Mai is so much more than just a city. For me also spending a day with elephants was the total highlight of my stay in Chiang Mai. Injured and abused elephants from Thailand and Burma are rescued and brought to this lush sanctuary and nursed back to health. ENP has been around since the 1990s. Kruger National Park, South Africa. Established in 1995 by award-winning conservationist Lek Chailert, it sits on the edge of a lush rainforest on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. Store Directory: Maya Chiang Mai Shopping Mall. Are you a fan of ethical wildlife encounters? Once everyone is on board, they play a video about the Elephant Nature Park and the efforts they do to encourage ecotourism. Based on the expertise of 36 scientists and clinical veterinarians, this volume covers biology, husbandry, veterinary medicine and surgery of the elephant as known today. Oh wow I had not heard of that before, I guess some companies just jump on the eco tourism bandwagon and if the tourist dont look into the company and research they think they are ethical, but truly they are not. We all wonder what could she be doing and what could be at the very top. Wanting to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai? Instead, they help us feed them while the staff members tell us the individual elephants’ stories. And, its location is that of beautiful, mountainous terrain. When choosing where to stay in Chiang Mai you are spoilt for choice. Elephant Nature Park is located 60 kilometers outside of Chiang Mai. Especially by encouraging local Karen tribes to practice ecotourism and educate both the tourists and the local Thai people. After about an hour and a half of playing in the dirt with the elephants, we decide to walk back towards the village. Thanks for sharing, your photos are gorgeous <3, This sounds an interesting experience. Feeding the elephants, elephant bathing, and lunch were included as well as pick up and drop-off from my hotel (ibis Styles Chiang Mai). 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