Elephant Conservation Project

Elizabeth D Start Date: Jan 11, 2014 - End Date: May 10, 2014
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Cultural Exchange
  • Thailand

My Travel Story

by: Elizabeth D Start Date: Jan 11, 2014 - End Date: May 10, 2014
  • Educational/Research Trip
  • Volunteer Trip
  • Cultural Exchange
I first went to Thailand in April 2012. I had the opportunity to visit an elephant sanctuary and was blown away by my immediate new found love toward these gentle giants. I got the chance to ride an elephant through the forest, and feed and pet them. When I got back home to the states I had a new found pull not only toward elephants, but Asian cultures and Buddhism. The relationships and history between elephants and parts of Asian culture is so interesting. There's a mystery about these big creatures, so much depth behind their eyes. Their size and grace mesmerize me; elephants are truly one of a kind. With the vast drop in their population (and becoming an endangered species) I truly want to devote my time in learning as much as I can about these creatures to sustain their existence.

According to estimates by the World Wildlife Fund, there are only between 2,000 and 3,000 wild elephants remaining in Thailand, and this number continues to decline. Much of this trend can be attributed to the competition for land between local communities and the elephants, while domesticated elephants continue to roam throughout Thailand with their mahouts and are seen begging for food by performing tricks for tourists.

Throughout Thai history, elephants have been used to assist in the construction of temples and to help clear forests and carry timber. In ancient Thailand, the kings of Siam used elephants to ride into battle and the more elephants a king had (especially white elephants) then the more status and power he enjoyed. Elephants occupied a very prominent role in battles. Almost all the famous Thai kings in history were great warriors on elephant-back. King Ramkhamhaeng, King Naresuan and King Narai were the most outstanding examples. Murals depicting battles on elephant-back still exist in several places today.

This volunteer placement will give me the opportunity to immerse myself in Thai culture, learning about the role of elephants as I help the mahouts in the elephant camp that provides a sanctuary for retired working elephants. My work may include a combination of exercising, washing and feeding the elephants, garden maintenance and working directly with the people of the centre.

Sometimes you do not know what you are missing until you find it. And I have discovered a new passion, a new love with elephants. Here are some amazing facts about elephants. I want you to truly get to know how amazing these creatures are! I hope you come to love these creatures as much as I do.
1. Elephants are amongst the world's most intelligent species. They have been noted for their memory and pleasant nature.
2. Elephants exhibit a wide variety of behaviors, including those associated with grief, learning, all mothering, mimicry, play, altruism, use of tools, compassion, cooperation, self-awareness, memory, and language.
3. The elephant mirrors the life patterns of a human more closely than any other living thing. Its life span is approximately 80 years and its growth rate similar to that of humans.
4. Asian elephants have the greatest volume of cerebral cortex available for cognitive processing of all existing land animals.
5. Elephant families can only be separated by death or capture. Because elephants are so closely knit and highly matriarchal, a family can be devastated by the death of another (especially a matriarch), and some groups never recover their organization.
6. Elephants are the only species of mammals other than Homo sapiens and Neanderthals known to have or have had any recognizable ritual around death. They show a keen interest in the bones of their own kind (even unrelated elephants that have died long ago). They are often seen gently investigating the bones with their trunks and feet while remaining very quiet. Sometimes elephants that are completely unrelated to the deceased still visit their graves. When an elephant is hurt, other elephants (even if they are unrelated) aid them.
  • Thailand

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