Elephant Nature Park - Part 1

Sawasdee from the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.  It is day three of our stay here and so far we have fed elephants, bathed them (and each other in the water fight that ensued), cut grasses and cleared fields, listened to lectures on conservation, learned some Thai language, shoveled Ele poop, helped out finishing all the yummy deserts at dinner time, and we are getting used to being in a constant state of excitement.  Our day to day activities vary, tomorrow we work in the Ele kitchen making banana balls then we get to meet and greet different elephants and learn their stories.  There are 37 rescued elephants in the park, all of whom have their own distinct personalities.  This park employees 80 people on a full time basis and helps out around 200 people from the surrounding community.

Lek, the founder and recipient of our admiration, is well liked in this area because she makes it a point to show the positive aspects of conservation work by educating and supporting the community.  Chay, our go-to park liaison, is full of information and he knows every elephant's name.  He has taught us how to feed these gorgeous girls (and a few boys) without getting tons of saliva all over our clothes and is patient enough to take photos with 14 different cameras when we are all clamoring around the elephants.  We are pretty much in love with elephants completely now and many of us have signed up to be an elephant ambassador - we will bring the story of the Asian elephant home!

-Peace from Elephant Heaven-

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