Elephant Nature Park Halts Rescues, Additional Land Needed

Without more land, there can be no more elephants …

Ten years ago, when Elephant Nature Park first moved to the Mae Taeng valley the area was virtually undeveloped. From Mae Tamman onward, the road was rutted gravel two track, which made for a challenging drive in the rainy season. The thick forest on either side threatened to engulf the road, giving one the feeling that you were heading well off-the-beaten-path. The final bumpy descent passes a sacred spirit house nestled tight against the rocky mountainside (to honor the spirit of the mountain who has claimed a few lives in the past) followed by a sharp curve and then — voila — it seemed you had reached paradise!

The jungle and mountains opened up to reveal a fertile valley with a river winding, snake-like. From the road there were no signs of habitation anywhere … several extremely large boulders lay clustered and scattered about the landscape. But wait — one of the boulders was moving!  WOW … ELEPHANTS!!!

…and there was Elephant Nature Park … in the beginning.

Initially ENP had purchased 50 acres, thanks to a generous donation from the Serengeti Foundation USA. During the next few years we were able to buy adjoining land, parcel by parcel, expanding the property by another 40 acres. Our dream was to buy everything available between our present location and the Elephant Haven, which is 150 acres of leased government land (located in the hills above Mae Tamman) a two-hour walk (at an elephant’s pace) east from ENP. Had we been able to accomplish this, we would now have more than enough territory to allow our herd the ability to roam endlessly.

Though we had yet to purchase it, many of our elephants had the privilege of wandering far down the shore of the Mae Taeng river, enjoying the long walks and plentiful browse. The undeveloped land was thick with vegetation and our elephants seemed to feel that the valley was already theirs. Back then, ENP’s overnight guests were treated with an epic ele-adventure walk. Rarely did we meet — or see — another soul that did not have a trunk except the trees.

The most coveted parcel was/is located on the opposite side of the river, 300 acres in all, ending at government land and almost reaching the Elephant Haven. This is the key piece of land necessary for Elephant Nature Park to grow in a way that most benefits our herd.

As the years passed, bit by bit, plots of land were stripped clean of the wild vegetation, making way for agriculture. On many a night, the buzzing of chainsaws could be heard well past midnight. We worried that there would be no trees left standing by the time the land owners were ready to sell.

Now it is 2013. We are fast approaching our 10-year anniversary.

The road is now fully paved and, because of the recent growth of tourist attractions in the area, the road commission is attempting to widen it as well. After that last turn past the spirit house where the valley reveals itself, the first thing you see is a plantation with an elephant camp sitting in the midst of the banana trees. On some evenings the screams of baby elephants separated from their mothers and being trained echo throughout the valley, joined by their mother’s distressed bellows.

Long ago our elephants could enjoy roaming this land. At the moment, it is inhabited by slaves which haven even escaped to find solace at our park for brief moments.

Across the river, captive elephants giving rides can be seen.

On the opposite side of the river, where the coveted parcel lies, more working elephants parading miserably, can be seen; a few of them far too old and thin to be working.

A building is under construction at an elephant camp on ENP’s border.

And to top it off, right next to where our land ends, a brick building is being built. Two sad and miserable young elephants are chained amongst the building supplies, rocking continuously. Their only relief from boredom is giving rides to wanna-be mahouts.

Captive elephants stand chained all day, just outside of ENP’s land.

The feeling of paradise is lost.

More boundaries have been created.

We have less space than ever.

Now we must face the reality: there can be no more elephant rescues anytime in the near future.

Our focus must be on attaining land and then fencing it in securely. To attain the land necessary to give our existing elephants the quality of life they deserve is even more critical than rescuing another elephant.

We have to think about the future.

We need to give Hope, Tong Suk (Jungle Boy), Faa Sai, Tong Jaan, Faa Mai, Chang Yim and Navann a place to call their own where they can do as they like.

No mahouts. No chains. No schedule.

They have long lives ahead. Their future is in our hands.

Because we can no longer rescue elephants, we are asking our supporters to help us by donating to our land fund directly. At this time, we are not raising money to rescue any additional elephants. We are dedicated to raising money to purchase this parcel of land. UNTIL WE HAVE THIS LAND, THERE WILL BE NO MORE RESCUES.