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One woman’s dream to end elephant suffering grew into a nature park where the animals roam free

3 min read

Good Stuff
Source: Facebook/TheElephantNaturePark

After hearing the screams of working elephants, Sangdeaun “Lek” Chailert resolved to become Thailand’s Elephant Protector.

Elephant Nature Park in Chaing Mai provides a sanctuary and rescue centre for working elephants

Elephant Nature Park is a unique project set in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand. Established in the 1990s by, Sangdeaun "Lek" Chailert ("Lek" means "Shorty" in Thai), their aim has always been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. The park is located some 60 km (38 miles) from the city, and has provided a sanctuary for dozens of distressed elephants from all over Thailand.

Lek never expected to be running an elephant sanctuary... Lek discovered as a child that all animals strive to live well and Lek become to determined to work to protect animals. It's not only the elephant she loves, and she helps all kinds of animals that she finds and provides a safe home for them. Source: Facebook/SoulPancake

At Elephant Nature Park you can either visit or volunteer for a longer stay

Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation centre in the Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand where you can volunteer and visit to help. The park has been involved in dozens of rescues which have created our thriving elephant herd. The park provides a natural environment for elephants, but also dogs, cats, buffaloes and many other animals are under their gentle care.

Elephant Nature Park welcomes volunteers and visitors to contribute to the healing process while learning about the animals lives, past and present. Elephant Nature Park has sister projects in other parts of Thailand, and also in Cambodia and Myanmar which you can also visit or volunteer for a longer stay.

Source: ElephantNaturePark

Protector of The Elephants, Lek Chailert “Lek” is the Thai word for “Shorty” but she is certainly not short on spirit, compassion, determination, and her love for animals is clearly as big as an elephant. Source: Facebook/TheElephantNaturePark

Lek began advocating for the rights and welfare of Thailand’s national symbol, The Elephant

Park founder, Sangdeaun "Lek" Chailert, was born 1961 in a small hill tribe village of Baan Lao, two hours north of Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand. During her childhood she had ample opportunity to spend time among a variety of animals. Her grandfather was the shaman (a traditional healer) who not only helped the people of his community, but would also tend to sick and injured animals. Her grandfather allowed Lek to be part of his work sometimes and would let her participate in his healing of the animals. She discovered that all animals strive to live well and Lek became determined to work to protect animals. It’s not only the elephants she loves, and she helps all kinds of animals that she finds and provides a safe home for them.

With a love and respect for her country’s national symbol, and the knowledge that they were becoming endangered, Lek began advocating for the rights and welfare of the Asian elephants in Thailand. In an industry steeped in tradition, advocating for positive change in the ways domestic and wild Asian elephants are treated has not been an easy battle. However, with hard work and determination her voice is now internationally recognised. In addition to several documentaries produced by National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet and the BBC, Lek has also won many honorary awards.

"Lek" is the Thai word for "Shorty" but she is certainly not short on spirit, compassion, determination, and her love for animals is clearly as big as an elephant.

Source: SaveTheElephant.org

With a love and respect for her country’s national symbol, and the knowledge that they were becoming endangered, Lek began advocating for the rights and welfare of the Asian elephants in Thailand. In an industry steeped in tradition, advocating for positive change in the ways domestic and wild Asian elephants are treated has not been an easy battle.
In an industry steeped in tradition, advocating for change has not been an easy battle With a love and respect for her country’s national symbol, and the knowledge that they were becoming endangered, Lek began advocating for the rights and welfare of the Asian elephants in Thailand. In an industry steeped in tradition, advocating for positive change in the ways domestic and wild Asian elephants are treated has not been an easy battle. Source: Facebook/TheElephantNaturePark
Lek and her staff are on hand to provide support, comfort, security and love to these gentle animals who have seen so much pain.
Some of the elephants are orphaned babies who are deeply traumatised Lek and her staff are on hand to provide support, comfort, security and love to these gentle animals who have seen so much pain. Source: Facebook/TheElephantNaturePark
Over the years Lek and the park have acquired more land for the aminals to roam, and in a twist of circumstances the mahouts now follow after the elephants, and not the other way around.
Elephants can roam free and choose between a dust bath, a mud bath or a wallow in the lake Over the years Lek and the park have acquired more land for the aminals to roam, and in a twist of circumstances the mahouts now follow after the elephants, and not the other way around. Source: Facebook/TheElephantNaturePark
Make an Impact

How You Can Help Elephants

Whether you visit, volunteer, donate or sponsor an elephant, there are a variety of ways in which you can help the cause.