Noi's Story
The elephant retirement park has been established to create a haven for retired elephants. Formally working in building yards, it is illegal to use elephants for labor. This is drastically altered there function in society .
The camps founder, Adulwit khamya, better known as Noi, has created a sustainable habitat for the elephants to live in a safe and natural environment, free from profiteering and neglect. At the elephant park family units are never separated and herbal medicines are used to keep the animals healthy and enjoy a better quality of life.
The elephant retirement park is proud of its strict policy of its treatment of elephants. There is no riding, chaining for beating of any kind. The sole focus of the ERP is to promote the well being of retired elephants. Visitors and volunteers to the park can expect an enjoyable and rewarding experience working with the local Mahout people to care for these majestic symbols of strength and peace.
Noi's Story:
Noi came from North Eastern Thailand.
His elder brother brought him to Bangkok to study elephant behavior for years at the Wat PrasatBoonyavat Temple. Where he learn Buddist Story, doctrine, From there, Noi moved to Chiang Mai where he became a tour guide. This is where Noi saw first hand the treatment of elephants, and it broke his heart. He saw elephants being mistreated on a daily basis. This caused his soul to become disturbed. How can such an amazing creature be beaten, over worked, and mistreated. Noi eventually ended up working at an elephant camp where he met an orphaned elephant. He instantly fell in love with her, so much, that he could not leave her side because she would cry at night for him to return. Noi ended up sleeping with her so she wouldn't cry. From this moment, Noi realized that he wanted dedicate his life to saving elephants from these horrific conditions. In 2014, Noi decided that the best way to save these elephants was to build a camp where they can live in peace in a natural safe habitat. He decided that tourist would like to learn about the elephants in a humane way by building & promoting elephant ecotourism.
- Noi has been running the Elephant Retirement Park for 6 years.
Nonprofit Organization:
Funded by visitors & donations. All monies raised goes directly towards improving our elephants lives. While continuing to rescue sick, abused & orphaned elephants.
Noi's Mission: To help protect, heal and care for mistreated elephants rescued from abusive situations.
To rescue elephants from the tourist trade/industry & give them a better life in a safe humane way while living in their natural habitat.
To educate tourists about the importance of elephant preservation, proper eating, sleeping, bathing and exercise.
Against the practice of riding elephants, elephant painting, elephant circus tricks. This practice is unnatural & abusive.
Against the practice of separating baby elephants from their mothers.
He is also against exploiting elephants for financial gain. (Elephant begging)
Dedicated to providing elephants with the highest quality of life.
Ecotourism/Nature Tourism:
Elephant ecotourism: to educate the public by educating & promoting awareness through elephant friendly tourism.
1. A new travel ethic where people want to experience nature & the world, but should try not to do so in a way that doesn't impact the natural environment.
2. The responsible way to travel & see exotic threatened species to support conservation efforts & observe wildlife in their natural habitat.
3. Environmentally responsible way to travel to natural areas, in order to enjoy & appreciate nature (and accompanying cultural features, both past and present) that promote conservation, have low visitor impact and provide for beneficially active socio-economic involvement of the local people.
Most tourism today do not promote ecotourism. Ecotourism emphasizes conservation, education, traveler responsibility and active community participation.
Ecotourism aims to promote:
1. Conscientious, low-impact visitor behavior.
2. Sensitivity towards, and appreciation of, local cultures and biodiversity.
3. Support for local conservation.
4. Sustainable benefits to local communities.
5. Local participation in decision making.
6. Education components for both the travel & locals.
Noi's Goals:
1. Build a cement wall, so the elephants can roam freely 24 hour day.
2. Raise enough money to purchase a bigger piece of land.
3. Rescue more elephants.
4. Protect & care for elephants that have been abandoned, mistreated or from owners who can no longer care for their elephants.
5. Save elephants from the harsh reality of the elephant loaning business.
Noi's Setbacks:
1. New current leader where Elephant Retirement Park resides at wants to kick Noi out, but local villages approve of park.
2. Leader??? Concern elephant waste (poop/pee) contaminate river.
3. Ground seepage from EPA ponds possibly contaminating ground water supply.
4. Some villagers are scared of the elephants.
Noi's Costs $$$:
- Lawyer
- Staff
- Advertising
Elephants:
- leasing land
- building structures
- feeding
- medical treatments
Future Costs:
- Build a cement enclosure.
- Clinic
- Buy a larger piece of land to expand park.
- Purchase elephants from abusive owners.
Donations:
- Caring for exploited & abused elephants is a difficult & expensive task.
Reality of Elephant Tourism:
- Most tourists are unaware of the harsh realities of the elephant tourism business.
- Unaware of the abuse the elephants endure when placed in captivity.
- Unaware of how elephants are treated, trained & tamed.
Social interactions:
Elephants are like humans. They socialize, have families & friends, feel pain, sorrow, happiness and more....
What You Can Do Instead Of Riding Elephants:
- Feed them
- Spend time with them
- bathe them
Without causing further harm or damage.
Allow human interaction without compromising the elephants health & safety.
Elephant Customer Testimonials:
profiteering and neglect. At the elephant park family units are never separated and herbal medicines are used to keep the animals healthy and enjoy a better quality of life.
The elephant retirement park is proud of its strict policy of its treatment of elephants. There is no riding, chaining for beating of any kind. The sole focus of the ERP is to promote the well being of retired elephants. Visitors and volunteers to the park can expect an enjoyable and rewarding experience working with the local Mahout people to care for these majestic symbols of strength and peace.