Paul and I spent today with the elephants in the sanctuary
outside Chang Mai-not one of the tour/trekking camps which dominate the area,
but the only one of its kind here, a true elephant rescue/conservation area.
It’s the one where our daughter, Annie, volunteered for a
week last year, see www.elephantnaturefoundation.org
for details
It is truly an amazing place, founded by a lone Thai
woman battling against opposition from
both locals and the state-the elephant may be sacred in Thailand, but still
abused so much, not just from logging, which still goes on despite being
outlawed in many states, but through their use in the tourist trade.
Now 36 elephants roam freely in a mountain rainforest
setting. Setting off early in their minibus with our tour guide Marissa, 65kms later up windy twisting narrow steep
hillsides we emerged into ‘elephant heaven’.
Two days ago a new baby was born; and we were able to peer
in amazement at this tiny hairy miniature elephant, staggering under its
mother. The other elephants, even from other ‘family groups’ were as keen as us
to see the new arrival, and many times we had to take shelter hastily as
elephants charged. One in particular, a youngster, was misbehaving to the
extent that his mahout (keeper) ended up in a tree!
We were able to feed them, bath them and, when a calm group
or pair were happy –ears waving and trunks swaying-and the mahout would permit
it, we could stroke and talk to them. Each individual elephant had his or her
own sad past and now a happy life, several times I was moved to tears, esp. the
elephant that has a broken hip from forced breeding, and limped patiently along
to see me, and those blinded from circus shows or maltreatment.
The park has an organic garden and provided a gorgeous
vegetarian buffet, much to my delight. We trekked the hills following the
elephants (we follow the mahouts, who follow the elephants, guess who’s in
charge here….), and then when they went for a bath in the river, so did we!! And
then the elephants got out, and covered themselves in mud again…ready for us to
wash it off yet again!
We arrived back dusty, smelling of elephant poo and river
water, and with memories that will last a lifetime.
No comments:
Post a Comment