To see these elephants in their natural habitat was just amazing
I still can't find the right words to describe how i felt when i first touched an elephant. I know about his previous life, forced labour, pain and torture. And I was so glad i could spend a full day with a bunch of rescued elephants in an ethical elephant sanctuary approx. 3 hours north of Chiang Mai.
Along the way to the Karen Hill Tribe Project we couldn't help to notice that there are a lot of tortured elephants that are ridden by tourists. Some elephants must walk around with whole families on their back. To do so and follow the orders of their mahouts they must be...broken. They use hooks as long as my forearm to get those gentle animals to do what they should - for the money of tourists who don't think twice about what this means for the elephants.
The elephants we met came from such cruel circumstances and were saved by the Karen Hill Tribe Project. You could see the difference in their behaviour, their lust for life and - that they are finally in a place where they can life without pain and fear.
For me it was an experience of a lifetime. It still brings tears to my eyes. I will cherish the memories I made this day forever.
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This is such a wonderful post and one that I wish more could see, it breaks my heart to think of all the elephants that have been broken so that some can have that holiday experience. I spend a few months in Thailand a few years ago and I found it really hard to witness that, some people just have no idea and those I tried to talk to didn't want to hear about the reality these elephants have to face.
Whenever you write about your travels and use photographs please use the creativecoin tag so that you can also earn some tokens xx
Thanks for posting great content about "LIFE" - one of 5 tags celebrated and supported by @freedomtribe. Your post has been featured in our Spread The Love #37 curation.
I (@artemislives) live and work in Chiang Mai with the Karen people and LOVED seeing this post celebrating the really tough work with these elephants. You should edit the post and add it to the @steemitworldmap to attract wider support and also to allow other steem folks to discover it when they travel.
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Thanks so much for your reply. It makes me happy that my post reached someone living in this region! I so wanna come back and stay in the sanctuary a bit longer, maybe volunteer :-)
I didn't know aobut the @steemitworldmap and @freedomtribe. Thanks a lot!
At the bottom of the map, you click the button for "code" and it asks you to place your pin. You then copy that code and embed it anywhere in your post. (it doesn't show). Takes a moment and places your post literally on the map.
I have tears in my eyes having read this. thank you.
thank you so much! I've also had tears in my eyes writing the post.
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What a beautiful expression of love for these magnificent creatures. In a world where there are so many suffering animals, it is quite beautiful and heart warming to see this sanctuary and your affection.
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