Elephants are the largest existing land animals on this planet. Found in many parts of Southeast Asia and Africa, elephants are herbivores and are distinctively recognized because of the size of their trunk. They are the only surviving members of the order Proboscidea, of which mastodons and mammoths were also a part. However, in the past few decades, elephant populations across the globe have been declining very quickly. Today, there are only a fraction of elephants available than there were before. Elephants have been subjected to large-scale poaching because of the ivory in their tusks. However, countries such as Thailand have taken various steps to prevent poaching and they have created conservatories where elephants are protected.
What’s the Conservation Center?
One of the largest conservation centers in the country is situated in Chiang Mai. In a conservation center, elephants are allowed to live free and in harmony with nature. They are not disturbed by humans and are not caged. However, many of these elephants are properly trained, and because elephants are generally quite docile by their very nature, you can easily spend time in the proximity with the elephants. In fact, the Chiang Mai elephant conservation center also allows visitors to take pictures with their elephants or take pictures easily.
Why Are They Necessary?
The elephant has always been a symbol of Thai culture. In many parts of the jungles that are spread throughout Thailand, there are various kinds of elephants that can be found. However, poaching has become a serious problem in many parts of the country, and this needs to be resolved. That is one of the main reasons why conservation centers are necessary. These centers are properly regulated and provide a safe and secure environment for elephants to roam free. Spread over massive areas of land, the elephants are allowed to roam free and are tracked through GPS. Elephant populations across the globe have been dwindling, and by taking such steps, countries are playing an active role in making sure that they are able to increase the number of elephants.
Booking a Visit
To generate funds for the upkeep of the conservation center, many of the conservation centers around the country allow people to visit for a small fee. There are various types of tours that you can choose from, including morning visits, afternoon visits, and overnight tours. These tours are designed to give you an up close and personal tour of how elephants live in their natural habitats.
If you want to learn more about these gentle giants, this is the best place to be. If you are going to be visiting Chiang Mai anytime soon, you should definitely consider going to the conservation center here. It’s going to be an enlightening experience, because there will be a guide along with you who will give you an insight into their life. It’s well worth the money, and you are going to have the time of your life at the center!