Elephant Nature Park
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| Date opened | 1990s |
|---|---|
| Location | Chiang Mai Province, Thailand |
| Coordinates | 19°12′51″N 98°51′30″E / 19.2141°N 98.8584°ECoordinates: 19°12′51″N 98°51′30″E / 19.2141°N 98.8584°E |
| Land area | 250 acres (100 ha) |
| Number of animals | 67 |
| Website | www.elephantnaturepark.org |
Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants in Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, Northern Thailand, approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Chiang Mai City, founded by Lek Chailert. Chailert's first elephant sanctuary was founded in 1996, and the aim of Elephant Nature Park is to provide a residence for distressed elephants from all over Thailand.
History
Lek Chailert founded her first elephant sanctuary in 1996, to provide a home for elephants to live in a natural environment. Chailert and her husband Adam Flinn founded Elephant Nature Park as their latest version of elephant sanctuary.[1][2] It moved in 2003 to its current location, a valley bordered by a river, surrounded by forested mountains. The park has close ties with Chiang Mai-based Save Elephant Foundation, also founded by Chailert.
Location
The park is set in Mae Taeng valley, Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. It is located some 60 kilometres (37 mi) north of Chiang Mai. The park area comprises 250 acres (100 ha).
Rescue of elephants
Elephant Nature Park has rescued over 60 distressed elephants throughout the country, with an emphasis on surrounding Northern Thailand areas. The park's current herd includes elephants of all ages. Most elephants have been rescued from street begging, logging, or tourism. Some outlived their usefulness to loggers while others became useless to trekking camp owners. Five elephants have been born in the park, and three of the park's current elephants are as old as 64.
Assessments and media mentions
National Geographic's website reported on Chailert's efforts with elephants in 2002.[3] IN 2011 the site was listed in a CNN Travel article called "15 trips for Animal Lovers".[4] Chailert was listed in a special 2005 post-tsunami issue of the Asian edition of Time magazine as one of "Asia's heroes".[5][6] She received the 2011 Good Deed Award from Fundacja Zacny Uczynek (Good Deed Foundation, Poland).[7][8]
Elephant Aid International's assessment of Elephant Nature Park in 2011 found abundant foot disease, long periods of chaining on concrete floors, low mahout morale, and dominance as the form of elephant management. It also noted problems with the elephants' diet, sanitation, exercise, and stress levels.[9]
Gallery
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Feeding an elephant in a tailor-made shelter
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Feeding an elephant in the open
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Mahout feeding an elephant
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Mahout with young elephant
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Volunteers throwing water at elephants to help them cool down
References
- ↑ Elephant Nature Park at LinkedIn. Retrieved April 18, 2016.
- ↑ Kane, John. "Day Nine - Elephant Nature Park". Thai-Di-ary . January 26, 2013.
- ↑ Hile, Jennifer (17 October 2002). "Reporter's Notebook: Elephants Heal at Thai "Heaven"". National Geographic. Retrieved 2006-02-06.
- ↑ http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/animal-adventures-319825/
- ↑ Zabriskie, Phil (2005-10-03). "Asia's Heroes 2005, Sangduen "Lek" Chailert Thailand's Elephant Woman". Time Magazine. Retrieved 2006-02-06.
- ↑ http://content.time.com/time/magazine/asia/0,9263,501051010,00.html
- ↑ "Ms. Sangduen Lek Chailert receives Good Deed Award 2011". mfa.go.th. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand. 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2015-03-20.
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20120604222422/http://www.chiangraitimes.com/news/5141.html
- ↑ http://www.elephantaidinternational.org/pdf/ENP_Report2011.pdf
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Elephant Nature Park. |