An Elephants-Never-Forgettable Experience

Sian and her new friend

As mentioned in my last post, during our time in Bangkok, we ventured out into Thailand’s beautiful countryside to spend a day at the Elephant Day Care Centre on the River Kwai. It won't surprise you to hear me to tell you how hot it was (it was hot), but it was very, very hot out in the open mountains next to the River Kwai. In fact, so much so, that Sian nearly fainted from over-heating. It probably didn't help that we were boiling rice for twenty-seven elephants, though. Yes, you read that right. 

Elephant World is a large sanctuary that swallows up several acres of land just off the bank of the River Kwai, plenty of room for twenty-seven elephants, each big enough to flatten a car with one step. But these elephants were not born in the wild, nor were they bred here at Elephant World. They are rehabilitated elephants, rescued from captivity where they faced abuse, either in the moving circus or the logging industry. Fortunately, new laws throughout Thailand now prohibit this inexcusable treatment of these animals, yet the affect it's already had on these twenty-seven elephants is forever criminal, and downright unforgivable. 

Feeding time

On a lighter note, they all seem very happy at the sanctuary, where they're cared for by a team of volunteer workers. From them we learned that elephants require constant feeding, but that became quickly obvious. More interestingly, though, we learned that these animals are far more intelligent than they're given credit for. Perhaps the most memorable fact was that elephants are one of the only animals on the planet to exact revenge, as many believe that when elephants attack villages, it's usually because they've just been provoked or attacked by poachers. They also bury their dead, which is truly remarkable. Looking at one of these massive, majestic animals, you'd not think they had the largest brain of any land mammal, nor that they are particularly intelligent. But like apes, dolphins and humans, elephants are also able to recognise themselves in the mirror, likely demonstrating some level of self-awareness. 

Learning about the elephants was simply mind-blowing, but so was spending the day with them. We fed them all their favourite vegetables and fruits by hand, during which I couldn't help but notice the intimidating strength of their tusks, but also the remarkable dexterity and control. We later boiled them rice with some pumpkin, and got a little bit more up-close-and-personal as this time we fed them without any barriers or higher platforms to protect us. That said, we were kept well away from those with the red collars, which were the most unpredictable and therefore dangerous of the twenty-seven.

Up-close-and-personal

By the end of the day, we entered the water with a dozen of these huge animals where we helped to bathe them. They were of course being very closely monitored by experienced Thai workers and under the close watch of the volunteers, but that didn't change the fact that we were knee-deep in the River Kwai with these beautiful, powerful, wild creatures - with nothing more than a brush and a bucket!

This experience remains the most unforgettable of the trip so far. We've since seen the stunning backdrop of New Zealand, toured through a glow worm cave, stargazed atop a floating boathouse, hiked along the coastal trail of a gorgeous island in a place I can't name without looking at my notes (which are currently on the other side of the room) and seen dolphins and whales, but the intimacy of the elephant experience is yet to be matched. Like these incredible animals, you could say that we will never forget...

Fences are for wimps. And sane people

Bath time