Playing with Pachyderms

Chiang Mai, March 29th ~ An early morning sunrise sees us off  toward the north and Blue Elephant Preserve. Traveling through Chiang Mai, we pass thin cattle grazing a weedy parcel. Dogs of all walks roam the streets as freely as the people. moving skillfully between commuters motorbiking to work and merchants reading their wares along sidewalks. Small clusters of people perched on tiny red and blue plastic stools eat bowls of noodles and broth. A chicken stops, peers into an empty dish and continues on its way.

Downtown gives way to rural, unspoiled woodlands as we ascent the small mountain. Corn grows in thick clusters and rice barns dot the landscape. A man with weathered skin and eyes that appear to have witnessed the ragged struggles of this country sells hand-woven straw hats, satchels and brooms from a dusty, thatched stall along the side of the road as oxen pass by on their way up the hill.

Our van stops at Chaing Mai's version of a rest stop. We step out and draw a deep breath, taking in the crips air that's replaced the oppressive city heat. The little market overlooks a winding river; low tables set upon grass mats run along its banks.

We soon arrive at Blue Elephant Preserve. And fall hopelessly in love with planet Earth's largest inhabitants.

Al fresco dining along river at rudimentary, thatched roadside stop

Food is transported down to the tables via baskets on pulleys like the one to the right.

Straw goods, textiles and snacks are offered at the rustic shop above.

Less than two-month-old Valentine with her mother Lucky, 17. 

Valentine nursing.

Feeding the elephants a mash we made of bananas, sticky rice and grains. Elephants typically forage for their food, consuming 10% of their body weight each day in bamboo leaves, grasses, tree bark and other vegetarian delights. They also love bananas and sugar cane. For a 7,700 elephant, that translates into nearly 800 lbs. of food a day!

2 1/2-year old Dumbo (right) walks through the forest with his and Valentine's dad, Bepo. The sanctuary humanely trims the tusks of males if they grow to touch, thus prohibiting the elephant's trunk from freely moving up and down, which is important to their ability to eat, swim and take in water.

Elephants breathe, drink and use their tusks as a snorkel when swimming in deep water. There's nothing better than a cool bath on a hot day.

Bathing the elephants. Scrubbing the dirt and sweat from their  bodies..

Fantastically long trunks serve a host of functions: eating, drinking, breathing, and giving hugs. This is Colas, Valentine's grandmother. She is 50 years old and pregnant. The gestation period for elephants is 20 months.

Richard feeding Dumbo balls we made from mashed bananas, sugar cane, and rice.

A profile of Dumbo, the sanctuary's largest male. 4,000 domesticated elephants and 2,000 wild elephants currently live in Thailand.

Bathing the elephants.

Pachyderm sunscreen: Elephants toss dirt on their back to protect their skin from the sun. Here, young Dumbo gets an impatient nudge from his father, 14-year-old Bepo.

Spending time with these incredible creatures unleashes a whole new perspective.
Elephants have no natural predators....except man.