PhotoPhilanthropy

I was inspired to volunteer at the Elephant Nature Park by an article I read about the plight of the Asian Elephant in Thailand and the work of the park to change its fate. This religiously revered animal is now endangered in the wild and those living domesticated lives face torturous work and living conditions on a daily basis. Thai people were once dependent on these animals for their livelihood and economic stimulus through logging operations, but a countrywide ban on logging put mahouts and elephants alike out of work, on the streets and struggling to survive. Many mahouts were forced to move both their work and the elephants they depended on into cities in order to beg for money and food. The urban conditions put the very sensitive elephants, use to quiet jungle solitary, at risk of blindness, deafness and severe injury. As a foraging animal, an elephant needs to eat 150-300kg of food a day and needs to drink 150L of water, which the over-polluted and over-populated cities cannot provide.

The Elephant Nature Park takes in these suffering animals and gives them the chance to live in peace with others of their kind. Many of the elephants are permanently injured, and have found sanctuary within the park. The park recognizes dependence between elephant and man, and simply wants to educate the public about modern, humane ways to work with the elephants. The park uses positive reinforcement training, opposed to the traditional pajaan, or “breaking of the spirit”, a brutal tactic used to bring baby elephants into captivity. The Elephant Nature Park not only offers a haven for these animals, both permanent and temporary residents, but it also provides jobs and education for the local Karen people, promoting a harmonious relationship between all living things.