Mae Taeng Elephant Camp

Elephants have both a religious and economic importance in Thailand.  They are mentioned in Buddhist writing from centuries ago and they have a higher status than any other animal.  White elephants are particularly important and only the king can own them. 
Elephants have been used for logging for centuries.  Although most logging is officially banned in Thailand, elephants are still used for transporting logs in some areas.  They are often looked after by one handler for life, and they cause less damage than machinery.
Wild elephants still roam Thailand but deforestation and poaching have reduced elephant numbers to a few thousand.  Elephant camps have been established to protect elephants and to educate the public.

One of the most popular tourist destinations up here in Northern Thailand is the Mae Taeng Elephant Camp. At this camp rescued elephants are well-fed and housed and their numbers are on the rise.

Elephant's trunks are nimble-this one is putting a hat on Kim's head

Of course, they have to work for their food and board. The elephants put on a show-they kick around a soccer ball, dance to music, bathe in the river, demonstrate some of the old jobs they used to do (roll logs into position, drag logs around), paint pictures, and take sweaty tourists for rides.

A natural roller coaster ride

When elephants walk, they lumber. Up on its back that lumber becomes a jolting, rolling ride. We sat perched on a chair-like contraption on the elephant's back, while the driver sat on its neck and used his legs to steer it. Our driver steered our elephant into the river, and back up some steep inclines. About halfway through our ride our driver popped a folded green leafy thing into his mouth. As he chewed, he became much more animated, singing and urging our elephant to go faster. We think he was high.

Our elephant ride ended at a little village, where we got in an ox cart for the return trip. A boy about 12 years old was our driver. Ox carts provide a marginally smoother ride than elephants.

Rare white water buffalo pulling an ox cart

After the buffet lunch provided by the camp we enjoyed a bamboo raft trip down the river.

We had to work for our ride

Then we stopped at a orchid farm. Orchids are gorgeous.