Elephant Nature Park

feeding the elephants at the park

Yesterday we got back from the elephant nature reserve. We learned about a interesting contradiction in Thailand, although elephants are considered sacred religious animals in Buddhist culture often times they are mistreated. Although it was sad to learn this reality we felt Iike what we were doing there was helpful in making a difference.

The owner and person who started it all is a woman named Lek, she feels that elephants should be treated with love and compassion not as livestock, which is how they are categorized under Thai law. She found that they respond to positive reinforcement, such as being given a banana for behaviors that are encouraged by mahouts. She uses money raised by the park to purchase elephants and provide freedom and an experience as close to being a wild elephant as possible after being domesticated for so many years.

While at the park, we helped bathe the elephants, helped prepare their food and feed them. As it turns out, elephants are way more intelligent than we could have imagined and also have their own unique personalities. We also played with some of the 60 stray dogs the park is home to. Not only has Lek taken in elephants, the park has dogs, cows, water buffalo, a bear, horses and pigs.

Before we left for our trip we did a fundraiser on campus to make a donation to the park. After being at the park we felt that we should give more so we (the students) adopted an elephant for one year in honor of Dr. Imes for all she did in preparing this trip for us. We chose to adopt hope, an unruly teenage elephant who is very popular with the ladies at the park.

To say the least, the elephant nature park was an eye opening and enjoyable experience for all of us.

Krista, Kendell, and Katja

 

feeding the elephants at the park