Patara Elephant Farm
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| Patara Elephant Farm | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Date opened | 2001[1] |
| Location | Hang Dong Valley, Chiang Mai, Thailand[1] |
| No. of animals | 67[1] |
| Owner | Theerapat "Pat" Trungprakan[1] |
Patara Elephant Farm is an elephant breeding farm located near Chiang Mai, Thailand.[2] Their Program "Elephant owner for a day" helps people learn how to take care of an Elephant, and at the end of day, people can enjoy a ride at the back of Elephant.
Background
[edit]Patara Elephant Farm is a rehabilitation center for elephants. Its stated focus is on educating the public about elephants and their threats.
The farm pairs visitors with an elephant for a day and the visitors are tasked with caring for that elephant.[3] As of December 2014, the farm is home to 55 elephants. It is located in the mountains near Hang Dong Valley, south of Chiang Mai, Thailand. The farm was founded in 2001 by a man named Theerapat "Pat" Trungprakan.
Theerapat jokingly says that he and the other caretakers spend more time with the elephants than with their wives.[1] The elephant's caretakers, known as mahouts, are from a nearby Karen village and are paired with their own elephants to take care of.[3]
Mission statement
[edit]Patara's conservation philosophy is "Extinction is Forever." Their solution to conservation is through breeding.[2] The farm has four 'points': rescue, recovery, reproduction and reintroduction.[4]
One example of rescuing is Noi/Nui, who was saved from a circus.[5] Patara also adopts elephants from the streets of Bangkok that are used by their mahouts,[3] some of which were used in the illegal logging industry.[6][7] For reproduction, Patara focuses on actual mating instead of artificial insemination.[2] They have bred 24 elephants in 10 years.[1] Every year, around 2–3 baby elephants are born.[3] Five baby elephants were born in 2013.[1] The first baby elephant born at the farm was a male named Puchan.[6]
Program
[edit]
A trip to Patara consists of a hands-on experience where each visitor is given an elephant for either half or all of the day.[8] This program is called “Elephant Owner for a Day”. The program costs around $200 per person, with a maximum of twelve visitors per day.[3] Patara does not receive any of its funding from the Thai government.[1]
Arrival
[edit]When visitors first arrive at the farm, they are given shirts and pants traditionally worn by mahouts.[3] Then, they are asked to sit down while Theerapat gives a talk on the history, the state of elephants in Thailand, and why the farm was founded.[2] Visitors are allowed to interact with baby elephants at the farm while the babies' mothers are nearby.[9]
Education
[edit]To communicate with their elephant, visitors, while feeding their elephants, are taught the Thai words boun, which means "open your mouth," and didi, which means "good." Before checking the health of their elephant, visitors are given a demonstration on how to check an elephant's health.
The day ends with a bare-backed elephant ride to nearby temples, waterfalls, or forests.[10]
See also
[edit]- Asian elephant
- Mahout
- Wildlife conservation
- Deforestation
- Illegal logging
- Poaching
- Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Tourism in Thailand
- Ecotourism
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h McDonnell, Sharon, "Elephants in the Land of Smiles," Napa Valley Register. Lee Enterprises, 21 December 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d Radzicki McManus, Melanie, "On the backs of giants," StarTribune | travel. The Star Tribune Company, 11 December 2010. Web. 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f Rybak Caulfield, Deborah, "A Trunk Show in Thailand", Delta Sky Magazine. Delta/MSP Communications, June 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.
- ^ "Transformational Learning," 2014 Community Engagement Report (2014): 8. Center for Internships & Community Engagement. California State University, Fullerton, 2014. Web. 2 March 2015.
- ^ Adalid, Aileen, "Patara Elephant Farm in Chiang Mai," Patara Elephant Farm. Patara Elephant Farm, 1 October 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.
- ^ a b Teo, Tracy, "Riding the gentle giant: A visit to Patara Elephant Farm,” The Tennessean. Gannett Company, 20 December 2014. Web. 27 Fed. 2015.
- ^ H., Vivian, “Baby Elephant Loves Cuddling with Arthur,” Patara Elephant Farm. Patara Elephant Farm, 27 September 2014. Web. 2 March 2015.
- ^ McDonnell, Sharon, “Elephants in the Land of Smiles,” Napa Valley Register. Lee Enterprises, 21 December 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.
- ^ Perry, Martin, "The Big Dream," Out Their Magazine | International Hemoculture. Out There Publishing Ltd & Out There LLC, 2014. Web. 27 Fed. 2015.
- ^ "About Us", Patara Elephant Farm. Patara Elephant Farm, 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.