Thailand, and Chiang Mai in particular, is well known for its Asian elephants. Elephants in the past were domesticated and used for transportation and logging. Logging has since been banned due to extreme deforestation. Thailand’s elephants are now mainly employed in the tourism industry. The plight of Thailand’s elephants causes a bit of a moral dilemma. On one hand, the ideal would be for the elephants to be released back into the wild. However, there is a huge shortage of natural habitat remaining for them to survive. This is where places like Elephant Nature Park come in, and spending a day, or longer, at Elephant Nature Park is sure to be a highlight of your trip to Thailand, as it was for us.
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| It was very exciting to be so close to the elephants, but I was also very aware the one behind us could back up into us at any second. Note my grip on Romeo's waist, ready to pull him out of harm's way in an instant. |