Elephant Nature Park | |
---|---|
19°12′54″N 98°51′38″E / 19.21500°N 98.86056°E | |
Date opened | 1998 |
Location | Chiang Mai, Thailand |
Land area | 250 acres (100 ha)[1] |
Website | elephantnaturepark |
Elephant Nature Park is a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants in Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai province, northern Thailand, approximately 60 kilometres (37 mi) from Chiang Mai city, co-founded by Sangduen "Lek" Chailert.[1][2] In 2013, Erawan Elephant Retirement Park opened in western Thailand as an offshoot. By 2016, there were branch parks in Surin and in Cambodia, and there were plans to open a fifth park in Phuket. By then, the work was coordinated by the Save Elephant Foundation.
The parks provide sanctuary for rescued elephants and operate under a business model in which tourists pay to visit and help care for the animals, and they can stay for extended periods.