Day 20 - Training, Final Group, Walk with Lek and Tubing

Another activity at the Park is simple training of elephants. Lek is trying to show that it is possible to train elephants in a way that is not cruel and painful. One of the major purposes of the training is to enable possible veterinary work to be carried out simply - as the animals are taught to respond to the training and gain confidence that they will not suffer.

(L - Karl and Michelle in the training grid - the cross bars are the various heights which the elephants are trained to lift their feet.)

The training is on the reward system, with the elephants being rewarded with bananas when they get the commands right. Karl and Michelle carry out the training day by day. Attendance is voluntary, and some elephants progress faster than others. (One elephant comes in 3 - 4 times a day - perhaps because they want to learn, or perhapsd it is the banana hand out??? But that would be cynical, wouldn't it??)

(L - Michelle replicates some veterinary examination of the base of the elephants foot - to accustom the animal to what could occur)


(R - Karl uses the long pole to tap the rear quarters of the elephant to train them to change positions)

(L - A mahout carves an elephant model of his elephant. The mahouts can supplement their income by the sale of these carvings)

(R - A rear view of Tilly and Mae Kham Puen - the former has a damaged hip, and the latter is 90% blind - and they are best friends)


(L - Our group assembles for the traditional group photo - the elephant came uninvited)

(R - We also have the guides assemble



(L - WE then were able to pose with the guides and the elephant)



(R - In the afternoon, Lak appeared again, and took several of us on a walk out in the Park - with the babies she simply calls their names, and they come right up to her)


(L - Lek had brought her pet hen along to try the sand bath on the sand pile)


(R - The baby elephants demanded some attention)


(L - Lek also tried to introduce her pet chicken to the elephant - it didn't seem to mind too much!!)


(R - The baby elephant tries to negotiate the sand pile - UP)


(L - And DOWN!!)



(R - Mum and baby are quite happy to have Lek - see her crouched under the baby's front legs)


(L - Lek talks to us on the river bank)


(R - Now that the week has come to a close the guides offered a tubing adventure on the river - so we loaded the vehicles and drove up river, where the passengers boarded their tubes for the drift back to the Park)





(R - Tep had trouble getting on board his tube)



(L - About 20 mins later the group drifted back into the Park)



(R - And at about the same time, the monsoon rains started!!)


(L - A very wet group emerges from the water - and rush for a hot shower!!)