Located
less than an hour’s drive from Chiang Mai, Thailand’s most beautiful
city,
The Thai Elephant Conservation Center simultaneously serves two
valuable functions: education/tourism and science coupled with conservation.
First, the Center, which has 48 elephants, provides a unique opportunity
to see elephants in a beautiful forest environment. It is the most
Thai of elephant camps, the only place you might find yourself in
an audience of Thai people. As Thailand’s only government-owned
elephant camp, the Center must keep its prices low and thus it is
by far the cheapest – as well as the friendliest -- place to see
a show and to take elephant rides. The show, based on traditional
logging techniques, is highly respectful of elephants and includes
no circus-like behaviors.
The Center was the first place in Thailand to do paintings done
by elephants and is the home of the Thai Elephant Orchestra.
Second, the Center is world-recognized facility for scientific research,
conservation and welfare of the Asian elephant. The Center runs
a hospital and a mobile clinic, both of which treat any and all
elephants for free. The Center has a good natural breeding rate
and is a leading expert in Artificial Insemination.
The TECC is run by the Forest Industry Organization, a state enterprise
of the govof Thailand. The center has numerous royal affiliations,
including patronage from HRH Princess Galayani. |
