During my two weeks abroad in Thailand, I saw many different facets of Thai culture. I learned a lot about Buddhism, the dominant ‘religion’ in Thailand, by visiting gorgeous temples and talking to monks. I learned about cooking during my time at the Asia Scenic cooking school, where I was taught the balance between spice, sour and sweet. I learned a lot about tourism, the biggest industry by revenue in Thailand. And finally, I learned a lot about Asian elephants, from their cultural and historical significance to their uses now, especially in the tourist industry.

Historically, elephants were revered by Thai people; they were viewed as symbols of strength and wisdom, which were very important in Buddhism. White elephants (albinos) specifically were viewed as pure and a sign of good fortune and prosperity. However, since tourism has become very big in Thailand, the uses of elephants have changed. Elephants are now used in riding camps, trekking camps, in elephant shows and circuses and in illegal logging companies. You see, elephants are wild animals, not a domesticated species, enabling them with a naturally strong will and a strong bond with one another, not with humans. This means that typically, a wild elephant will not do what a human wants if it doesn’t want to. However, every elephant in captivity in Thailand go through a process called the Phajaan when they turn two years old. The Phajaan means the ‘crush’ and is intended to crush the elephant’s spirit and replace the bond with it’s mother with a fear for the bullhook, a tool that is used to stab the elephant if they ever make an action that the mahouts (elephant caretakers) don’t like. During the Phajaan, elephants are tied to four posts by each leg, making them unable to move. They are kept there and tortured for days if needed for their spirit to break.

Even with these horrible practices going on in Thailand, some people are trying to make a difference. One of these people is Lek Chailert, a Thai woman who founded one of the largest Asian elephant rescues, Elephant Nature Park (ENP). This is where I went to volunteer during my study abroad, where I learned all of this information. The majority of the elephants at ENP were rescued from various different abusive situations, many of them permanently disabled. ENP gives these elephants a chance to feel wild again, they are able to roam freely, bathe in the river and form the family groups they would have had in the wild. While my time in Thailand showed me some dark things, I learned a lot about the people truly trying to change things for the better. Lek Chailert has had such a big influence on me, she has gone through many hardships, including being disowned by her family, arrested numerous times and much more just to have her voice heard. I strive to be so passionate about something that I will give up everything to change it for the better.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: Global Service: Elephant Conservation in Northern Thailand