Elephants have been part of the Thai culture for centuries since they fought alongside the Thai people in many wars against the Khmer/Cambodians and the Burmese, starting around the 14th century. And they are still very highly regarded today, with a white elephant included on the flag of the Royal Thai Navy and the “order of the white elephant” being one of the highest honor bestowed by HM the King.

Close-up of Thai elephant in Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai

But something changed dramatically in the past 600 hundred years, it is the number of elephants in the wild in Thailand, it dropped drastically and there is most probably not more than a few hundred elephants left in the wild. The biggest part of the Thai elephant population is now domesticated and quite a big part of it can be found in many “tourist camps” all over the country. You can even see, sometimes, elephants in the streets of the main cities, even Bangkok, with their mahouts bringing them there to beg for food and money. Although I noticed that, at least in Bangkok, it is happening very seldom these days (fortunately for the elephants).

Thai elephant in the river in Maesa camp in Chiang Mai

So, in summary, these days, you can see elephants everywhere in Thailand, except in the wild, and the Chiang Mai Maesa camp is a good place to start if you happen to visit that nice city in the North of Thailand.

Elephant show in Mae Sa elephant camp in Chiang Mai

The Maesa elephant camp is located on the km 10 of Mae Rim – Sameang road. There is a show in the morning and in the afternoon.

Elephants and mahouts saluting the public in Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai

I have mixed feelings about the show,  or at least part of it, I do not like too much the idea of training elephants to be circus animals for the enjoyment of the crowd. A bit of a “loss of face” for animals that fought wars after wars to defend Thailand.

You can also take a ride on one of the elephants for half an hour or one hour. You’ll sit on the very comfortable bench on top of the elephant. Kind of like taking a slow boat ride over sea waves.

And they have some elephants that look pretty impressive to me, especially their ivory tusks. Lucky guys to be in this camp, I guess, in the wild I’m not too sure they would survive long. Poaching elephants for their tusks is unfortunately still a very sad reality today, wherever you can find elephants, and Thailand is no exception (was in the news recently actually, an elephant killed for its tusks).

Elephant with long tusks in Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai

Elephant with long tusks in Maesa elephant camp in Chiang Mai

And the part that my son likes most is being able to give them food, although he finds them pretty scary, part of the attraction I guess

All the photos were taken last year with the Canon 450D. And if you want to know more about the Maesae elephant camp, their website is here

Mae Sae Elephant Camp