Elephant Nature Park is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in Northern Thailand where as visitors, my husband, John and I had the opportunity to volunteer to help with the care of rescued elephants. The founder and team at Elephant Nature Park have created a wondrous and thriving elephant herd in a remarkably natural environment. When we first arrived in Thailand, we were excited over the idea of riding an elephant through the Jungle. Feeling the powerfulness of such a beautiful creature beneath us as we made our way through the eyes of the gentle giants. After in depth research, we changed our course and set out to experience elephants in another way.
In order to be part of the Day of Sunshine For Elephants, we rose with the sun, boarded a large comfortable van, made our way to 2 other locations to gather the rest of our group and began a lengthy trip into the Jungle. Our guides were friendly, knowledgeable but also noticeably serious about introducing us to the nature park and it’s mission. Shortly after our ride began, they showed us a video covering the lives of elephants, the abuse they experience from infancy, through death. We learned, the memories elephants make are passed to future generations. The closer we came to ENP, the more beautiful and rugged the terrain. It was such a beautiful and truly natural environment for the elephants as well as for many dogs and cats, rescued after the Tsunami. John and I chose to contribute our day to the healing of newly rescued elephants, while learning about their lives past and present, through the Sunshine for elephants program. After some effort by ENP staff, a local elephant camp owner agreed to free their elephants from work, took off the chains and have allowed ENP to show them how to sustain their livelihood by sharing their elephants with tourists, while gifting the elephants a kind, compassionate life in the Sunshine project.
“At Sunshine for Elephants program, all the elephants used to work for their whole life as a human entertainer, now they enjoy their freedom walking into the natural terrain, having mud baths in the jungle and feeding themselves with all fresh leaves”. As visitors of the elephants, we enjoyed walking with the elephants throughout the forest, up hills and down, admittedly worrying about being stepped on by the enormous foot of the elephant we were paired with. Feeding them bananas along the way while they also pulled at leaves and branches for nourishment. We were permitted to reach out and touch them gently, I loved looking into their eyes and at a point or 2 I sang to our elephant softly. It brought me to tears, I was so amazingly touched to be wandering in the Sunshine in the Chiang Mai jungle with newly free elephants! Even after years of hardship, there was still a sense of kindness that flowed from him to us. A trust we didn’t deserve. I was really moved by the guides kindness toward the elephants and felt slightly uncomfortable watching as the elephants foraged in their natural habitat. Did they mind my staring? Were they impacted by my presence? At times all 3 would wonder off beyond our sight but could be heard pulling at branches, you could see large saplings bending deeply at a tug from our giant friends. I believe I could sense the joy they must be feeling, to be free to roam and forage and commune with one another, as and where they wished.
There was a quiet, a subdued feeling among our group of 3 elephants, 6 visitors and 3 guides. It was remarkable to stop along the way and enjoy a memorable homemade lunch in the jungle. To partake in a moment of preparation of the lunch by helping to grind ingredients in a pestle, in the middle of the jungle! It was a family style meal that allowed us as guests to engage with one another, share thoughts of our morning with each other, find out what motivated each of us to participate in this day of healing. I left the lunch feeling we were all receiving our own personal healing through the experience.
Spending the day with elephants in their natural environment is a dirty business. For the visitors and the elephants. There was a moment over lunch when we watched as the elephants sprayed themselves with dirt, dust flying everywhere and then rubbed enthusiastically against surrounding trees. We learned it was their way of protecting themselves against the sun. Trekking through the jungle up one hill, down another, over rocks and branches, through trees, if that was the whim of the elephants, you could truly become part of what they were experiencing. I felt at times, as if I were back in rural Delaware, wandering the woods behind the homes of our community. Crossing the clay covered creeks, picking at the honeysuckle, swatting at flies and bees. I remember the cracking of branches, the breeze in the trees, the sounds of birds over head and bugs all around. Being in nature has always been healing to me. I could only hope as I wandered with elephants, that it was healing to them as well.
In the hours side by side with elephants and their guides, and while watching the entire herd together, later in the day, we learned the power of the Female in the elephant herd and their natural instinct to protect their young until they are able to care for themselves. How female elephants come together to help protect each other’ newborn and young, through “puberty”. Much like I experienced with good friends with my children, when they were small. An outing to the park and one mom watches some children while another takes a few to the bathroom. A dear friend watching one child while I went off to give birth to another. Another friend, close enough to have pacifiers in her drawers for my little one, though her kids were well into middle school and beyond. Parents calling to confirm middle school party or high school concert details...The comparisons between human and elephant caretaker, were humbling.
As the day came to a close we came upon a beautiful river. Looking down from the ridge above we could see crystal clear water. A shallow, slow moving river with cliffs jetting into the water on one side and jungle around the other. Before I knew it, we were in the river with the elephants, splashing them and then each other with buckets of water. Washing away the dirt and the dust, and maybe with each splash of cool water, a memory of unkindness was washed away for the elephants. The splashing and wading in those waters filled me with a lightness, a warmth, a renewal of my own spirit. It is a practice I must work at each day. Even as I write, I am thinking of times I wished I were more generous of spirit. I share this so others may be inspired, but more, reliving, through writing, I hope it will inspire me to be better. To spread Sunshine each day in hopes of it falling on those I come in contact with and warming their spirit. I will forever remember this wonderful experience and am truly grateful to share these memories with my husband John, through whose eyes I am often seeing a side of myself I forget to see. Today, may I inspire you to Spread Sunshine and choose an unfamiliar path that may lead you to enlightenment.
While writing about this journey, I enjoyed the sounds of Zen Garden-Music for Deep Sleep, Meditation, Spa, Healing, Relaxation
