The importance of elephants to southeast Asian civilization goes dorsum centuries, together with they are frequently prominently featured on temples together with shrines every bit a sacred figure. Sadly, they accept been abused inward circuses together with operate camps, together with poached for ivory, together with are similar a shot on the endangered species list. We had the chance to pass the solar daytime at Baan Chang Elephant Park which industrial plant to acquire together with rehabilitate abused elephants.
First, nosotros changed into our mahout clothes. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 mahout is an elephant handler together with it is a chore typically passed on through the generations of a family. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 immature man child volition acquire an elephant together with they volition live together for life.
Next nosotros learned well-nigh the diet of an elephant. They swallow upwards to xviii hours a solar daytime (330 lbs of vegetation)! This lady was preparing saccharide cane for us to feed to the elephants.
Also, bananas.
Time to feed.
They seemed to similar the bananas the most, together with would swallow the entire thing, peel together with all. Maybe the saccharide cane was also much work?
Watching the agile means the elephants used their trunks was only amazing.
It is a flake intimidating existence upwards unopen together with personal amongst a fauna of this magnitude.
The Asian elephant is a flake smaller than its African counterpart, together with has ii lumps on its head, rather than one.
An elephants torso has over 60,000 muscles!
Elephant pare is well-nigh ii inches thick, except for the ears, which are quite sensitive. The elephant flaps its ears every bit a means to cool down, together with due to the many veins inward the ear, the blood gets cooled together with travels throughout the body.
Next up, fourth dimension to larn to mountain the elephant, also larn our commands together with how to steer the elephant.
The mahouts seemed to accept a groovy human relationship amongst their elephants, together with the elephants were trained to follow their voiced commands. In fact, the mahouts lived inward huts well-nigh twenty feet from their elephant together with fifty-fifty know their elephants voice. (The mahout did deport the elephant grooming hook, but nosotros were told, alone every bit a security precaution for the guests. I never saw the elephants mistreated inward whatsoever way.)
We learned that all elephants had really dissimilar personalities. She was really friendly.
When asked who wanted to travail first, Ella raised her mitt without hesitation. No surprise there!
Her elephant was well-nigh nine years old.
My elephant was well-nigh 23 years old. They accept a life bridge similar to a human, together with tin really alive to 100 years former nether the correct circumstances!
This was a really thrilling experience!
Ella didn't desire to acquire off.
Eva volunteered next, she was nervous, but pushed through it. I was proud of her.
You exactly residue your hands correct on the elephants caput for stability.
Now she's loving it!
And, i to a greater extent than pic. I absolutely dear this one.
Matt's turn. The mahout's complimented his form.
Now that the practise session was over, it was fourth dimension for lunch!
I could odor some amazing sauteed garlic every bit nosotros washed up. I also loved how the dried garlic looked hanging along the kitchen area.
The outdoor patio was peculiarly lovely.
We were served a wonderful pad Thai, amongst egg together with tofu.
And fish ball soup. Not my thing. Matt said it was a hot domestic dog texture amongst a fishy flavor. Enough said. But, the broth was a fabulous kokosnoot milk base of operations amongst a spicy kick. Yum!
And, lastly, pineapple for dessert.
After getting our fill, it was fourth dimension to ride. Bird's oculus view.
Ella together with I shared an elephant, together with I loved watching its large ear flap against her leg.
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 really unforgettable experience. It was awesome feeling those big, powerful shoulders motion upwards together with down.
We rode bare back, because the saddles yous sometimes see, tin live really painful for the elephant.
This elephant commons had over 120 acres of province for the elephants to alive on every bit a condom haven. Land inward this part is getting scarcer amongst each passing year.
After riding for well-nigh xxx minutes, the elephants took a interruption together with had dip inward the lake. Apparently, the 3 things elephants dear most are "eating, scratching, together with getting wet."
I even together with then can't acquire over how unopen nosotros were to these magnificent creatures!
We got dorsum on our elephant together with rode well-nigh some other xxx minutes. The elephant pilus was quite coarse together with got form of scratchy. I was glad I wasn't inward shorts.
Next, was everyone's favorite part. We got to bathe the elephants!
The girls climbed correct upwards on their backs, together with nosotros scrubbed them downward amongst trivial brushes.
Ella together with Eva took this chore really seriously.
The elephants seemed to live inward pure bliss, amongst eyes closed together with enjoying every moment.
They also seemed to dear existence doused amongst buckets of water.
Water fight! Ella together with Eva loved getting sprayed past times this elephant.
This was their highlight, for sure!
Sadly, it was fourth dimension to go out of the water. Ella's mahout allow her ride the elephant out of the water.
She was definitely inward her element.
After a shower inward a partially open-air shower stall, (I loved listening to the resident roosters during the shower), nosotros relaxed until the double-decker ride home.
These hammocks were really really comfortable.
This was a really amazing solar daytime that nosotros won't shortly forget. I pray that these magnificent creatures are to a greater extent than or less for many years to come!
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