Elephant Nature Park is a 800 hectares (1,976.8 acre) sanctuary and rescue centre for elephant

Elephant

Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...

s in the Northern Thailand

Northern Thailand

Thailand's northern region is geographically characterised by multiple mountain ranges which continue from the Shan Hills in bordering Myanmar and Laos, and the river valleys which cut through them...

, Chiang Mai Province

Chiang Mai Province

Chiang Mai is the second-largest province of Thailand, located in the north of the country. Neighboring provinces are Chiang Rai, Lampang, Lamphun, Tak, and Mae Hong Son. In the north it borders Shan State of Burma...

, approximately 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) from Chiang Mai City

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...

. Founded in the 1990s, the project's aim is to provide sanctuary for distressed elephants from all over Thailand. Set in a natural valley, bordered by a river, and surrounded by forested mountains the sanctuary and surrounding area offers a glimpse of rural life.

Background

Its founder, Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, was born at a remote mountain community in Northern Thailand in the 1960s. Her maternal grandfather was a tribal man of the forest and Lek's jungle forays with him led to an early and organic understanding of the wonders of nature. Against the backdrop of poverty she obtained a university education - something practically unique considering her circumstances.

Despite extreme financial difficulties she succeeded in founding Elephant Nature Park along with her husband Adam in 1996.

The park is close to her home village. Elephant Nature park has the aim is to provide a sanctuary for elephants to live in a peaceful natural environment. When Lek was young, her family cared for an elephant which became a close companion to Lek. This affection led to working with elephants in the forests. With a vet they provided medical care to sick elephants in remote areas. The park's current herd includes disabled, orphaned, blind and rescued, elephants of all ages.

The elephants at the sanctuary are rescued from street begging, logging or tourism. Their scars, mental and physical, need to be healed. Some outlived their usefulness to loggers while others became useless to trekking camp owners. Lek's work takes her deep into the jungles of Northern Thailand where, with the help of medical staff, she treats tribal villagers and their families with medical care and, often, donated clothing. Her Jumbo Express programme provides much needed care to elephants in the jungles in Chiang Mai province and beyond.

The park is based in Chiang Mai province, Northern Thailand, some 60 kilometres (37.3 mi) north of Chiang Mai city and Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX)

Elephant Nature Park has rescued over 35 distressed elephants throughout the country and has received numerous awards from institutions including the Smithsonian. The founder, Sangduen Chailert, was named Asian Hero of the Year by Time magazine in 2005, and the park has been featured in many international publications including National Geographic magazine, as well as feature documentaries from numerous film production companies including Animal Planet, BBC, National Geographic, CNN.

In an area which abounds with elephant parks and camps, this is the only one which rescues mistreated elephants, allows them heal and to live naturally in their self-chosen family groups. The emphasis is on rescue and conservation rather than 'shows' or training. Dozens of rescued dogs and cats also live at the centre, apparently at ease with their giant neighbours.

The park is open to visitors all year round. Day trips and overnight stays can be arranged as can longer-term volunteer placements.

Protection of the forests is another of her many projects and she had initiated a programme of saving

Park sustainability and preservation programmes are focused around local culture, common sense, and a deep conviction in the preservation of our home area. In one program, individual trees are saved by tying sacred saffron cloth around each tree, which locals are the reluctant to cut down, fearing insults to jungle spirits.

Lek's efforts have been recognised worldwide and numerous stories have appeared on televisionand print media including National Geographic and the Smithsonian Society.. In October 2010, Lek was received in the White House

White House

The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...

 by U.S. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton.

Awards

• 2003 Guest of Honor of the US Humane Society's
  Humane Society of the United States
  The Humane Society of the United States , based in Washington, D.C., is the largest animal advocacy organization in the world. In 2009, HSUS reported assets of over US$160 million....
  
   Genesis Awards
• 2005 Time magazine's
  Time (magazine)
  Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
  
   list of "Asia's Heroes"
• 2006 Earth Day Award
• 2006Honoris causa Doctor of Veterinarian Science from HM Crown Prince of Thailand
  Maha Vajiralongkorn
  Somdet Phra Boromma-orasathirat Chao Fa Maha Vajiralongkorn Sayammakutratchakuman is the only son of Bhumibol Adulyadej, the King of Thailand, and Queen Sirikit...
  
  
• 2008 Outstanding Woman of Thailand Award