The Elephant Show

Today we visited the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) founded in 1993, where we were able to watch an elephant show, take elephant-back rides and visit the elephant hospital. Upon arrival we were given a chance to visit the elephants up close, pet them and even take pictures with them before the beginning of the show. The trainers then took the elephants into the water for a nice bath as the little elephants played alongside which we enjoyed watching.

The show then followed, filling us with facts about the elephants they care for and their history in Thai culture with performances by the elephants to go along with it. We learned that TECC cares for Asian elephants, which were used in Thailand’s logging industry for hundreds of years until it was banned in 1989. We also learned that the average lifespan of these elephants is 60 years. During the show we were able to see the elephants pull logs that were about half of their body weight and we also watched them move logs around in other ways to demonstrate their agility. The elephants understood the commands given to them by their trainers in a variety of ways including body movements, pressure or touch points, and voice commands. The final portion of the show included an elephant painting session where three of the elephants painted pictures that students were then able to purchase to bring home. 

The elephants ready and happy to see new visitors!

The elephants enjoying their time in the water

The baby elephants are chained in the shallow water to prevent them from traveling into water too deep for them.

Before the start of the show the national anthem played and the elephant featured in the picture above is bowing to show respect to the king.

Elephant parade to start the show

The history of elephant logging in Thailand

Let the elephant painting begin!

The finished products