In 2000 the Maetaeng Elephant Park owners decided to raise money for elephant medical supplies by selling elephant artwork to park visitors. Back then if
an elephant was sick or injured they would have to be loaded onto the back of a truck and driven the 3 hour journey to the government sponsored Elephant
Hospital in Lampang. Alternatively the vets had to make the long journey to the park to administer the medications. These delays were stressful and sometimes
dangerous for the sick elephant. “The visiting vets did their best to share their knowledge with the mahouts so that they could treat and properly take
care of their own elephants, but we could see that more was needed to be done”.
FREE CARE
FOR ALL THE ELEPHANTS IN THE MAETANG AREA
In 2006 the Park started a fledgling clinic. Initially it was started for pregnant elephants so that they could have a protected area within the park where
they could be monitored. Very soon after that it was equipped to take care of minor medical issues also.
In 2009 the Park took a big step forward when they created a fully equipped licensed clinic. It needed full time veterinary staff and experienced Mahout’s
with ancient knowledge of natural medicinal herbs and elephant behavior. “With help from various charity groups, volunteers and several local
businesses we were able to create a proper clinic infrastructure and today we have a fully operational FREE clinic. This
What it takes to run an elephant clinic?
- Salaries for trained vets who specialise in elephant health
- Anything up to $2000 per month for medical supplies
- A truck capable of transporting animals to and from the clinic
- A purpose built building suitable for the special needs of elephants under treatment
- Transport and fuel so that our vets can visit other sick elephants in the area
- Fees for government certification
- A lot of love!!
Unlike the Lampang elephant hospital that is funded at least in part by the government we have the responsibility of funding and maintaining our clinic
ourselves.
We decided right from the start that this facility should be available for free treatment of any and all elephants that needed treatment. If we hear about a sick elephant we simply have to help them. We feel it is our duty and our privilege since we have managed to create our clinic
Of course it is not easy to raise the money and we are forever trying to think of new ways to manage. The sale of elephant art is still the main source of income other than profits from the elephant park activities.
“The most important lesson I learned is that there are no walls between humans and the elephants except those that we put up ourselves, and that until we allow not only elephants, but all living creatures their place in the sun, we can never be whole ourselves.”
Lawrence Anthony
Conservationist
“In the long history of humankind (andanimal kind, too) those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
Chales Darwin
Naturalist
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.
…
An ounce of practice is worth more than tons of preaching.”
Mahatma Gandhi
Indian civil rights leader
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
- Visit our park and enjoy the shows and rides
- Join one of our amazing Mahout elephant experiences
- Purchase merchandise from our Elephant Art shop in the park
- Purchase elephant art from our online Elephant Art shop in this website
- Purchase a Paruay handbag from the Elephant Art collection created especially in order to raise funds for the clinic
- Sponsor an elephant either when you visit the park or directly through this website
- If you are a veterinary student chose Maetaeng Elephant Clinic for your practical thesis