Sep 8, 2015
Baby Anda having a quick nap at Surin Project (Thailand - September 6, 2015)
Note: She scratches her chest with her trunk. ♥
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Baby Anda having a quick nap at Surin Project (Thailand - September 6, 2015)
Note: She scratches her chest with her trunk. ♥
The Surin Project is an ecotourism outfit in eastern Thailand that aims to improve the lives of captive Asian elephants. I spent a lovely week walking, bathing, and feeding the elephants of the project, practicing my Thai (and Muay Thai) and getting to know the mahouts and people of the village. The mahouts who participate in the project are required to follow high husbandry standards, while volunteer fees and donations provide them a fair wage and steady income, along with plenty of food for their elephants. This is a big step in the right direction. Elephants used to be used in logging, transportation and farming in Thailand, but modern machines have all but replaced them, and so mahouts have had to find other means. Mostly this meant begging on the streets of Bangkok, until a government initiative moved them out of the city to Surin province, where tourism (circus, elephant riding) is now the main source of income for most mahouts. In Ban Thaklang (the wee village where the project is based) there are over 150 elephants, many who perform in the circus, spend the rest of the day and night hobbled (two front legs chained), get little to no exercise, and are underfed. This is why the Surin Project is so important. It improves animal welfare while supporting the local community, and makes for an unforgettable experience for tourists. It is true, responsible ecotourism. After 3+ months of traipsing around south-east Asia, taking it slow in Ban Thaklang was very welcome, and most definitely a highlight of my trip.
beautiful memories in Surin
A moment in the life of baby Anda at Surin Project (Thailand - February 1, 2015) [x]
Best ele-friends at Surin Project (Thailand)
Nong Lek and Nam Fon joined Surin Project on the same day (July 2013). For these two eles, it was love at first sight; they instantly ran to each other touching trunks, squeaking, and trumpeting. On their first walk, side by side they strolled, trunks intertwining and rumbles sounding
Happy ele at Surin Project (Thailand)