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Thailand The Elephant Whisperer

29 images Created 26 Feb 2012

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  • Lek with Hope at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  ..Hope is the most active and mischievous elephant in the park, whom she rescued as a baby.  "I spoiled him.  Now he thinks he is a prince here," she admits.  When Hope first started living at the park he went up to Uncle Mac the tallest elephant in Thailand trying to intimidate him.  Lek says, "Hope thought he was a big boy," but Uncle Mac, twice his size, was not afraid of him. But she explains - everyone at the park must obey Hope.  ..One day a local rafting guide poked Hope with a stick and laughed as he was guiding clients down the river passing through the park.  Lek says Hope never forgot that man.  Hope would allow every rafting guide and their clients to pass with no problem, but every time that man appeared on the river Hope would run and turn his raft over.  She says the man tried shaving his head as a disguise, but ended up having to quit.  Hope always remembered him.   ..However, Lek says, "The vet [veterinarian] is Hope's number one enemy."  One time Hope injured his tusk fighting with an elephant named Jungle Boy.  The vet used a huge painful needle to cure Hope's infection.  Lek laughs as she continues, "A few weeks later the Vet walked past Hope and he felt something hit the back of his head that was very wet.  The vet could feel and smell that it was poop.  Hope just grabbed his poop and threw at the vet.  Then Hope stood their innocently pretending he didn't do it!  The vet turned away and Hope did it again!"  Even today the vet can't go near Hope unless the ground is cleaned up first.   Lek says, "Oh my god.  Hope causes me so much trouble.  He always has to show everybody who is the boss."   .
    Thailand Lek 47 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert feeding baby boy Chang Yim (Smiling Elephant) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 30 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers give the elephants a bath at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 04 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with baby girl, Pha Mai (New Sky) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 40 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert talks to baby boy Chang Yim (Smiling Elephant) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 50 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers give the elephants a bath at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 03 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers enjoy feeding the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 25 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers enjoy feeding the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 24 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers enjoy feeding the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 71 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert and her partner Darrick Thomson (sitting background) and park veterinarian (standing behind) try to weigh the elephants on a platform at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 42 .jpg
  • Thai mahouts (A term meaning driver or keeper of an elephant) monitor the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 08 .jpg
  • Thai mahouts (A term meaning driver or keeper of an elephant) monitor the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 11 .jpg
  • An old logging elephant with an injured leg at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Many logging elephants suffer broken legs when logs roll down on to them from behind.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 13 .jpg
  • Jody Thomas (right) leads tourists and volunteers on a morning walk at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 16 .jpg
  • Dianna Sliva from Portugal pets Jokia while Jody Thomas takes her photo at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand. Jokia gently walks up to volunteer, Dianna Silva from Portugal, who begins petting her trunk.  Silva says, "It's a wonderful story how Mae Perm adopted Jokia when she had no friends.  It is my second time coming here.  For me Thailand is the best country."..Jokia, age 50, was blinded in both eyes from an abusive owner, but her best friend Mae Perm, age 89, acts as her eyes leading her around the park.  ..Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 21 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers enjoy feeding the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 23 .jpg
  • Lek Chailert takes time out to pose for photos with vistors at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 27 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert feeding baby boy Chang Yim (Smiling Elephant) and baby girl, Pha Mai (New Sky) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 28 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with visitors at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 31 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 33 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 34 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 35 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with baby girl, Pha Mai (New Sky) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 37 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with baby girl, Pha Mai (New Sky) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 38 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with baby boy Chang Yim (Smiling Elephant) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 48 .jpg
  • Lek with Hope at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  ..Hope is the most active and mischievous elephant in the park, whom she rescued as a baby.  "I spoiled him.  Now he thinks he is a prince here," she admits.  When Hope first started living at the park he went up to Uncle Mac the tallest elephant in Thailand trying to intimidate him.  Lek says, "Hope thought he was a big boy," but Uncle Mac, twice his size, was not afraid of him. But she explains - everyone at the park must obey Hope.  ..One day a local rafting guide poked Hope with a stick and laughed as he was guiding clients down the river passing through the park.  Lek says Hope never forgot that man.  Hope would allow every rafting guide and their clients to pass with no problem, but every time that man appeared on the river Hope would run and turn his raft over.  She says the man tried shaving his head as a disguise, but ended up having to quit.  Hope always remembered him.   ..However, Lek says, "The vet [veterinarian] is Hope's number one enemy."  One time Hope injured his tusk fighting with an elephant named Jungle Boy.  The vet used a huge painful needle to cure Hope's infection.  Lek laughs as she continues, "A few weeks later the Vet walked past Hope and he felt something hit the back of his head that was very wet.  The vet could feel and smell that it was poop.  Hope just grabbed his poop and threw at the vet.  Then Hope stood their innocently pretending he didn't do it!  The vet turned away and Hope did it again!"  Even today the vet can't go near Hope unless the ground is cleaned up first.   Lek says, "Oh my god.  Hope causes me so much trouble.  He always has to show everybody who is the boss."   .
    Thailand Lek 49 .jpg
  • Sangduen "Lek" Chailert with baby boy Chang Yim (Smiling Elephant) at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 54 .jpg
  • Volunteer, Dianna Silva from Portugal, interacts with an elephant at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  She says, "It is my second time coming here.  For me Thailand is the best country."..Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 66 .jpg
  • Tourists and volunteers interact with the elephants at the Elephant Nature Park near Chiang Mai, Thailand.  Sangduen "Lek" Chailert founded the park as a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants.  The park currently has 32 elephants sponsored and supported by volunteers from all over the world.
    Thailand Lek 06 .jpg
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