Elephant Jungle Sanctuary
- Zoe Simpson
- Jul 20, 2016
- 3 min read
Hi loves!
Its a national Buddhist holiday in Thailand this week, meaning a 5 day weekend for us! So we took full advantage and jetted (or worlds worst night bus'ed) ourselves off to Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is a beautiful cultural city in the North of Thailand, home to hundreds of temples and animal sanctuaries.
We were recommended The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary by a friend, so booked our spaces on their website, to be picked up at 8am by songtao and driven 2 hours out of the city to the mountainous sanctuary.
Sach loving the bamboo built dry area!
Our guide took us around the camp (location 5), across the swinging bamboo bridge and introduced us to each elephant, telling us their stories as we went along.
Despite there been a fair few of us approaching, the elephants were inquisitive, coming closer, seeming very comfortable and happy to be around people.
It was then onto feeding Breakfast! (baby bananas and sugar canes). Holding the bunch of fruit behind our backs, standing to the side and holding a single banana out for them to take.
They get very excited!
Alternatively you can ask the elephant to open its mouth, by loudly saying "bone" - like Harriet here!
They enjoyed being stroked and often came over to be adored!
They were then given free time to rome (and eat even more!), whilst we had a home cooked (and delicious!) lunch.
Each elephant wears a wooden bell around their neck, so if they wonder off they can be found, even if they can't be seen.
Our guide explained about the elephants vegetarian diets and how to grind up a rice-tamarind-salt 'medicine' to aid digestion.
And then to feed it to them: -
Each day the elephants go into the river to wash and play, we were invited to go with them! Had to be careful not to get squashed though - they love to roll in the water!
The reason the elephants look brown rather than grey like we imagined, is that they instinctively cover themselves in mud after washing, as natural protection, otherwise they get sunburn - aww!
We were invited to join the elephants in the mud bath:
The best part of it being a sanctuary rather than a park, is that the elephants are in control of their own happiness, so if they don't want to play in the mud anymore, they don't have too!
And if you want to play in the mud yourself, you can!
Then to the waterfall within the camp to wash off.
Before it was time to say good bye and be songtao'd home.
As leaving the camp we were thanked and explained the money we paid goes to caring for the elephants and rescuing others from a life of working. We were given thank you gifts and asked in return, to spread the word about ethical treatment to animals, and how riding elephants causes incredible damage and pain, their outwards facing spine isn't designed to take any weight.
It's heart warming to see how much these people value and care for the elephants they have rescued, I'm happy to pass on their message and spend my holiday money seeing happiness and freedom!
Spread the word!
Zoe
xoxo
* disclaimer - The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary did not ask for, or know this was been written - its simply a story from a happy girl after a great day :)
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