Elephant Nature Park

Elephant Nature Park
Map
19°12′54″N 98°51′38″E / 19.21500°N 98.86056°E / 19.21500; 98.86056
Date opened1990s
LocationChiang Mai, Thailand
Land area250 acres (100 ha)[1]
Websiteelephantnaturepark.org
Navaan, born at the park October 2012, with founder Lek Chailert
Female elephant (Dok Ngern, 15 years with newly born Dok Mai) (23 days)

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" (Thai for "small") 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 can stay for extended periods.

  1. ^ a b Cunningham, Lillian (November 11, 2013). "At one with the elephants at a Thailand sanctuary" Archived 2016-08-08 at the Wayback Machine. The Oakland Press. via The Washington Post.
  2. ^ Kane, John. "Day Nine – Elephant Nature Park" Archived 2016-10-11 at the Wayback Machine. Thai-Di-ary . January 26, 2013.