Baan Chang Elephant Park is a new project north of Chiang Mai. Pom, the owner, used to work as an elephant trekking guide at an elephant camp and became increasingly upset at the long hours and amount of work the elephants were forced to do. Pom decided to use his savings and start his own elephant park offering a newer and gentler type of elephant activity called Elephant Mahout Training.

At Baan Chang visitors can learn what its like to be a mahout (elephant handler) for the day. They teach visitors about the importance of elephant care and husbandry including correct eating, sleeping, bathing and exercise. One method of providing exercise and a superb learning experience is to allow visitors, to a limited extent, to ride elephants naturally behind their ears. You will learn how to command and ride an elephant without the use of a chair as if it was your own.

Baan Chang provides a natural habitat for their elephants. They are dedicated to giving them the highest quality of life possible. They are AGAINST the practice of elephant painting and training for circuses as they consider these practices unnatural and abusive. They are also against separating baby elephants from their mother yet they also accept and provide care for orphaned baby elephants. Sadly, babies are often orphaned as the cruel result of commercial exploitation.

To date, Baan Chang has provided a home for 12 rescue elephants, most of which were used in street begging. Caring for exploited and abused elephants is a continuous and costly process and they rely solely on volunteers and donations. With the support of visitors, Baan Chang can continue to grow into a successful rescue centre for elephants.

For further details please visit www.baanchangelephantpark.com