Elephant Retirement Park, Chiang Mai
Ethical Elephant Park
IG: @bethsandland
The area around Chiang Mai has become world renowned for its elephant parks. Many of these have self proclaimed themselves as sanctuaries but what separates the Elephant Retirement Park from many others, is that its focus is on caring for previously abused elephants. There is absolutely no riding of the elephants, a practice which is proven to be cruel, and the elephants who live here have been rescued from exploitation.
The elephants are, of course, the star attraction here but interaction with visitors is calm and they’re free to roam. They come and go as they please, though they certainly love the attention they get from visitors, especially if you happen to have sugar cane, banana or any other elephant snacks! There’s plenty of time to pose for photos if the elephants want to stay still; they’re never forced to do so or positioned for tourists.
You also have a chance to enjoy a mud bath with the elephants, which helps clean their skin. Once again, participation is up to the elephants, they’ll decide when they want to play in the mud or bask in the sun! Finally you go with the elephants to a lake to wash the mud from them. Generally this involves them spraying water all over you! Some of the elephants have been in the retirement park for nearly 30 years, one is disabled and has been rescued from being put down.
