Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat took a private trip with his family to Chiang Mai last Saturday (28 July 2018) for an ecotourism and ethical elephant sanctuary experience.
The eye-opening excursion allowed them to learn first-hand about Thailand’s growing wave of elephant conservation.
On Sunday, 29 July, Minister Weerasak and his family went to the Patara Elephant Farm. Compounds like this are dedicated to providing a happy, healthy, and safe home for elephants to thrive. Visitors can interact with the animals in totally natural ways, like bathing them or walking with them through verdant jungle greenery.
Visitors can also be trained on how to approach an elephant, check its health, and communicate with the pachyderms through spoken commands. While it was a learning experience for the Kowsurat family, it was also an amazing chance for them to become friends with one of nature’s most intelligent gentle giants.
Their trip ended Sunday with a delectable lunch at the Huai Phak Phai Royal Development Centre, established by Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej in support of his ‘Sufficiency Economy’ sustainable development model. It is located about three minutes from the elephant sanctuary.
