The elephant is one of the most culturally significant animals in all of Thailand. In fact, it is also the national animal of the country, with many believing that it has been an integral contributor to Thai society and its cultural norms for centuries. Because of the many tropical forests spreading throughout Thailand, many of the elephants are present in the wild. However, due to poaching and illegal hunting, the government was forced to take appropriate steps, and that involved setting up different sanctuaries that provide ethical treatment to the elephants in their care.
What Is an Elephant Sanctuary?
There is a vast difference between an elephant sanctuary as compared to elephants in a zoo. In a zoo, the amount of space available for elephants and other animals is relatively small. Not only that, but these animals don’t have the feeling of being out in the wild either. But, an elephant sanctuary has been designed primarily for elephants, providing them access to vast, open grazing grounds. These are protected areas, and many are present in different parts of the country.
They have become very important tourist destinations as well, with many people traveling to these sanctuaries to explore the beauty of these creatures and see how they reside in their natural habitat. If you want to see good treatment of an ethical elephant in Thailand, you should consider visiting one of the many sanctuaries in the country. You will get to see these majestic animals roaming around freely, sometimes being attended to by the park authorities or the local monks that often live in the sanctuaries.
A Popular Tourist Attraction
Owing to the importance of the elephant in Thai culture, these sanctuaries have become a very popular tourist attraction, calling people in from all parts of the globe. If you want to see and learn more about the local elephants found in the country, taking a trip to one of these sanctuaries is a fascinating idea. There are a bunch of different packages available for you to choose from, ranging from overnight tours to day tours which are designed to give you a comprehensive view of the sanctuary.
You also have the option of approaching the elephants and taking pictures as well. However, it’s important that you listen to the guide and do just as they tell you. These experts are quite experienced when dealing with the elephants and will guide you on what you need to do.
Because the elephant sanctuaries are so popular, it’s recommended that you make a booking as quickly as possible. If you are travelling to Thailand and have confirmed the details of your trip, it’s recommended that you make a booking with the sanctuary and choose a package as early as possible. In most cases, you will be traveling with a group of people, so make sure you plan accordingly. These are just a few things that you should know about visiting the elephant sanctuaries of Thailand.
