In a charming moment captured at a Thai elephant sanctuary, a young elephant enthusiastically approached a visitor for a cuddle, offering a playful interaction that delighted everyone watching The video shows a woman seated on the muddy ground when, unexpectedly, a baby elephant bounds over, eager to make her acquaintance. The audience can’t help but laugh as the calf cozily settles on her lap. A bystander comments that the woman seems to be enjoying the unusual encounter. However, the calf’s boundless energy keeps it moving around, occasionally shifting in ways that look a little uncomfortable for the woman. She smiles and strokes the baby elephant as it readjusts onto her thighs, embracing the affectionate moment. But when the calf rolls backward onto her shins, she lets out a soft “ow,” prompting a nearby person to step in and lend a hand. Unperturbed, the little elephant soon rolls f...
A thousand elephants, facing the threat of starvation, have been making a slow trek through northern Thailand, journeying back from tourist sites that shut down due to the pandemic.
For some of these elephants, home is Huay Pakoot, a northern village where
generations of the Karen ethnic group have cared for elephants for over 400
years.
However, many mahouts (elephant handlers) and their elephants typically work 180 kilometers (110 miles) away, near Chiang Mai, a tourist hub. There, they perform tricks for visitors at parks or so-called “sanctuaries” in exchange for income.
Some of these camps use harsh methods to train the elephants, who are seen
as a source of entertainment for tourists seeking unique experiences.
But since global travel ground to a halt in mid-March, many of Thailand’s 3,000 domesticated elephants have been left without work, forcing them to return home to avoid starvation.
“They are tired but seem happy,” shared Chaiyaporn, a mahout of 15 years, as the elephants arrived in Huay Pakoot. “They remember this place—they know they’re home,” the 35-year-old added.
According to Theerapat Trungprakan, president of the Thai Elephant Alliance Association, around 1,000 elephants and their mahouts have returned to their villages over the past two months. “This mass migration in such a short time is something we’ve never seen before,” he said.
Challenges of the Homecoming
However, the elephants’ return has brought new difficulties. Huay Pakoot, a village typically with fewer than ten elephants, is hosting over 90 alongside its 400 residents.
Much of the nearby forest has been cleared for corn farming, leaving little natural habitat to support the needs of such a large group.
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“The village isn’t equipped to handle this many elephants,” Theerapat explained.
While some elephants sleep near homes, most remain in the forest at night, watched closely by their handlers.
Still, some manage to wander onto farmland, creating tensions with villagers trying to protect their crops.
There have also been reports of territorial disputes among the elephants, with at least two animals injured during a recent fight.
For the mahouts, feeding the elephants is a daily struggle. Each elephant requires around 300 kilograms (650 pounds) of food daily.
Nineteen-year-old mahout Jirayu Prateeppratarn explained that purchasing enough feed costs about 500 baht ($15) daily.
“We’ll need to plant more crops like grass, bananas, and sugarcane if this situation lasts much longer,” he said.
Concerns are also rising that some mahouts might turn to illegal logging to make ends meet, especially along the Thai-Myanmar border, as local budgets dwindle.
Still, there is hope that the pandemic may lead to reevaluating the often exploitative nature of animal tourism, a significant sector of Thailand’s economy.
Some villagers, like mahout Sinchai Joroenbunpod, are simply relieved to have the elephants back. “I grew up with them,” said the 37-year-old, whose elephants have never worked in tourist camps. “They’re like my brothers and sisters.”
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