After 20 Years, Captive Elephants In Thailand Now Free To Return To Habitats Due To Drop In Tourism

Arguably one of the most positive impacts that we have seen since the Covid-19 outbreak across the world, is how nature is slowly but surely, healing from the destruction that mankind has left in its wake. From clearer waters to clearer skies, and animals returning out to roam deserted streets, there are no shortage of incredible stories that we have heard across the world where nature has reclaimed our streets. 

And just recently, yet another remarkable incident has taken place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, where a large number (no pun intended) of elephants that have been kept in commercial elephant camps and tourist sanctuaries have been allowed to return home. This comes after many of these tourist destinations saw a massive and drastic drop in visitors in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Without any source of consistent income, these camps and sanctuaries no longer have the means to maintain the upkeep of their elephants and were forced to allow over 100 of the animals to return home to their natural sanctuaries, located as far as over 150 kilometres away, according to ITV.

Despite that, many more elephants continue to remain in these sanctuaries, while Chiang Mai based non-profit organisation, Save Elephant Foundation, continues to work tirelessly to raise funds for the animals held in captivity to ensure they don’t go hungry. 

The non-profit foundation will also be helping the 100 elephants that managed to return back to their natural habitats to settle back in Mae Chaem, where the Karen ethnic group has historically been known to raise them, reports The Sun. 

Mr Sadudee Serichevee, who owns four of the elephants that had been released, decided to bring the elephants back to his wife’s home village in Mae Chaem after coming to terms with the fact that they could no longer afford to maintain both the elephants’ upkeep and the cost of rent on their elephant camp. 

 “These elephants have not had a chance to return home for 20 years.”

“They seem to be very happy when arriving home, they make their happy noises, they run to the creek near the village and have fun along with our children.” he said.

It is said that elephants eat as much as 600 pounds of grass and vegetables daily, hence the exorbitant costs that these tourist attractions have to face just to keep their elephants well fed. 

We hope that these elephants will be allowed to return to the wild safely, and wish the Save Elephant Foundation nothing but the best on their endeavours to save Thailand’s elephants. To find out more about their work, you may reach them on Facebook here. 

Also read: Watch: Rare Sighting of Elephant Swimming in Tasik Kenyir and Netizens are Amazed!