| Deep in the jungle of Thailand, northwest of Chiang Mai, the vegetation is a deep green, dense and still; it is hot and humid, suddenly the stillness is broken by screeching monkeys jumping from hanging lianas, followed by a cacophony of birds. From a break in the jungle canopy the sunlight strikes you with such brilliance that you are dazzled and blinded. In this very jungle lives the next Van Gogh and the soccer whiz. They are a little overweight but nevertheless can do a marvelous impressionistic painting or can score a goal as well as old Pelé. It is almost unbelievable how they can pick a blade of grass with their trunks or use their massive feet to kick a ball. Yes, they are elephants! This is an Asian elephant training camp. It almost looks like a summer camp for kids. Crossing the main entrance an idyllic scene appears before us; a rustic bridge, clear water moving swiftly down the current, water splashing against the rocks and… the elephants. It is elephant’s bath time! They look like kids playing in the water, hosing themselves and their mahouts unaware (maybe they are good actors too) of the tourists gaping, ooohing and aaaahing, snapping pictures and wishing they could be in the water too. These elephants are the proud graduates of 6 years of training in smooth walking up and down hills, along the riverside carrying tourists. They learn to maintain an agreeable temperament; learn how to paint; play ball, lift logs; make circles with their trunks; drop their foot on their mahouts without crushing them; putting on hats smoothly and gently and much more. They start training at 2 or 21/2 years old, during the day and go back to their mothers in the evenings. It is a rigorous training and like people elephants also have different aptitudes: some are hams, other are artists, athletes or dancers! But one of the most important aspects is matching the right mahout for each elephant. The mahout or trainer takes care of their elephants, each one has a name and most elephants will spend all their life with one mahout. This symbiotic relationship will form an intense bonding, which reflects the need and trust between man and animal. These are working show elephants. Their parents used to be logging elephants but they are out of work now. Logging is prohibited. These elephants are amazing in displaying their expertise. Some are realistic painters, painting branches with red flowers and green leaves; others are into the impressionistic or modernistic phase. The character of each elephant is revealed in their paintings. The paintings are signed, framed and put on sale at the gift shop after the show. There are dancing elephants, soccer playing elephants and an incredible precision team showing how they were used during logging and as means of transporting heavy loads. They love to hear people clapping, and some are born clowns and cannot stop showing off. The impromptu interaction between the elephants and the spectators after the show indicate how they love to do what they do. They plop a hat on your head, try to caress you, and are smart enough to eat the bananas and sugar-cane, but not the tips that he promptly gives to his mahout. Follow the elephants down the well kept grounds, meander through the various path leading to a clearing where huge huts with palm-leaves roofing are the sleeping quarters, the hospital, the kitchen, the school and the nursery. The center now has 8 baby elephants born at the camp. The four-month old baby was a mere 440 pounds and the 11 months a hefty 950 pounds! An adult elephant eats 300 to 400 lb. of fruit and vegetation every day, thus to feed the 73 elephants at the training center is a task of gigantic proportions. The Center plants “nepia” elephant grass in their 100 acres, but that is not enough and they still have to purchase additional food. The Asian Elephant Art & Conservancy Project was founded 26 years ago by Khun Choochart Kulmapijit, an expert on Thai elephant management to save the elephants from the endangered list. He started with one. The success of his endeavor is shown by the popularity of the training camp and the increased number of elephants. Don’t forget to stop at the Gift Center, purchase artwork from your favorite painter and some paper made of elephant dung, a great gift for someone who has everything. Visit Chiang Mai, in Thailand and experience the natural setting of a breeding and training camp for elephants where man and beast are happy working together for a better future. Maesa Elephant Camp 101 Moo.9 T. Maearam A. Maerim Chiang Mai, Thailand 50180
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