3500 kg of love

cocosandswimwear
Feb 21, 2017
5 min read

Our travel series in Thailand continues and this time we got to visit a very special place.

Prior to arriving at Pai, we had done some research to try to spend some time volunteering at an elephant sanctuary or an elephant camp. We wanted to make sure we would not support any places that mistreat these wonderful creatures. The list was lengthy but we decided to pay Thom Pai Elephant Camp a visit. Our budget didn't allow us to stay at a sanctuary and we decided this would be the next option after that.

Indochinese elephants are smaller than African elephants. They weigh around 3,500 kg, eat constantly throughout the day and digest their food within 30 minutes. They sleep for about five hours a day and love to play in the water. At this camp, there are three lady elephants named One, Tutdao and Ot. One is a rescue elephant from a lumber-working farm; she is the oldest of the three at approximately 50 years-old and only has one eye, hence the reason for her name. Ot comes as the second oldest at approximately 35 years-old; she is a fourth-generation elephant in Thom's family. Ot is the fattiest of the three but the most loving. Tutdao comes as the youngest, at about 25 years old but the biggest of the three. Her name means superstar because she loves to dance to get more food. Each elephant has their own mahout (trainer) who stays with them for the rest of their lives. Ot and Tutdao are sisters.

Our days started out by walking the elephants from the mountain to river, where they are bathed and cleaned for the day after spending their nights up in the mountain. They hang out at the front of the camp while visitors come to feed them, trek with them, or bathe with them in the river. The mahouts also take them to the river at various times to make sure they get enough activity. We would then go to a farm to get bamboo grass, sugarcane, or bananas for the elephants. We would constantly clean their space and make sure their needs were attended. Thom, the camp owner, and her family care deeply for these animals; they have been part of their family for years. They have schedule vets to come check on them and there are days where we just spent the time by the river with the elephants.

The elephants are so used to human interaction that even when we were by the river with them, they would come hang out with us at our spots where we set our hammocks than being by themselves by the river. They act like gigantic puppies, constantly seeking your attention and always looking for food.

At the end of the day, around five in the afternoon, the elephants were taken back to the mountain where they spent the next 13 hours eating, throwing dirt on themselves and sleeping. They would occasionally escape to neighboring farms, eating as much as they felt like, and coming back with even bigger tummies.

The trainers speak very little English but we managed to become their friends and establish a relationship with most of the camp employees. They were some of the sweetest people we have encountered throughout our trip, always looking for ways to help us and make us feel at home. We went on trips together, spent many days, lunches and dinners and shared very special moments with them. We visited Lod Cave, Mae Hong Son (which was a crazy ride!), Pai town and some of their favorite local places. It has been one of our most memorable experience during this trip. They loved to play pranks on us, and make the elephants squirt water at us while at the river. The elephants absolutely LOVE being in the water. It was like watching puppies eat peanut butter. Our friends also invited us to a memorial for the King, who had recently passed away. Everyone was to wear black and mourn for at least a month. The memorial was beautiful and we could see how much everyone respected and loved the King.

We are well aware that elephants would be best free, in their natural habitat, without any humans around them; however, because of the increasing population and other awful illegal activities, this ideal situation isn't viable for them anymore, at least not in this area. The sanctuary is the second best option but they also lack the space and resources to rescue all of the elephants left in Thailand or in other countries.

The mahouts can have a direct effect on the well-being of the elephants. If they have been part of the problem, then I believe they can be part of the solution as well. Many of them treat the elephants the way their ancestors have treated them, but new conservation schools and training centers have been opened to educate them and help them be part of the solution. Many people's lives depend on this; they have very little belongings and give their entire lives to being with these animals. They love them and care deeply for them at Thom's. We figured a place like Thom's was the next step in trying to integrate them humanely in the Thai society. At Thom's Elephant Camp, you can choose to ride them (bareback, without the hurtful metal seats), or just walk alongside them.

Elephants have been part of this culture for way longer than I personally knew. Their history goes many years back and to many families who have owned elephants throughout generations, telling them to give them away is giving away part of their family. Almost as if we would to tell a horse-rider to give away their horse or not ride it. Thom makes sure they get enough food ALL DAY LONG, much love and constantly makes sure her elephants are well. She communicates with the mahouts and asks everyone to provide feedback on ways to improve.

I still wish they were free from us, that they could live happily in their space. Our time was dedicated doing what we could to make sure they ate well, to make sure they were clean in their space, to make sure they weren't overworked and provide them with as much love as we could during our stay. We stayed for a month; the elephants and the people at this camp were so special they became our family. It was hard to say good-bye. I hope their message of well-being for the animals spreads through the town to other camps.

I know elephant tourism has become a hot debate in recent years, and as mentioned above, we did our best in finding a place we thought was safe for them. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, we will try our best to address those.

I found this article to be very helpful as well, in case you are interested in learning a little more. Also, there are many fake reviews of places online...we have found this to be true of many places we have visited, including this one.

Thanks for joining our adventures! Stay tuned for more!

...and remember that wherever you are and whatever you do, happiness looks gorgeous on you!