Elephant sanctuary

We had a leisurely start to the day and were picked up at 9:00 to go out to the Banana Orchard Elephant Sanctuary for the day, which is close to the Burmese border.  Ajarn CC worked here last year as a volunteer and offered to host us and provide an elephant conservation program for us.  She had to travel from east of Bangkok just to do this.  This program was beyond outstanding and was far more informative and well-received by our students than any previous elephant experience we've had over the years.

We stayed at the Pung-Waan Resort, which is on the Kwai River and is really nice.

Ajarn CC met us at 9:00 and provided a few details about what she had planned for us for the day.

We first went to a training center where she gave us her thoughts on the debate about riding elephants.  As a Ph.D. conservation biologist and a Thai person, we have give her opinion strong consideration.  She gave ample reason backed up with facts why riding elephants is not harmful to the elephants and should not be considered a bad activity.

Her student "First" cut down a banana tree that we will feed to the elephants.

We took the tree out in sections.  Here are AT and Schmidty carrying out a banana log.

Lyndi and Mackenzie.

Morgan posing with her camera while I take her picture with my camera.  Everyone else was working but us.

Kristen

Even Ajarn Mark

Aren't they beautiful?   These are not rescue elephants, but were born in captivity, are with people all the time, and live pampered lives.

Morgan.

 Schmidty

AT

Jacob, Clarke, and Bryce

Lyndi

We had a quiz.. here's Morgan documenting that she knew the answers about how to distinguish African from Asian elephants.

We prepared snacks for the elephants by mashing together rice powder, salt, bittervine, and banana into baseball-sized balls.  We also made laxative balls by substituting tamarind for the bittervine.

Preparation became a sticky mess.

Here's AT giving one of the elephants a laxative ball.

We learned how to weigh an elephant by taking measurements and using a formula.  This elephant was 4,400 pounds.

Our last activity was to bathe the elephants. Morgan is hosing them, and Lyndi is scrubbing in the background while AT admires this magnificent animal.

Everyone was a winner today.  This was an incredible encounter...  Huge thanks to CC for making it happen.