wildlife
Elephant Nature Park – Thailand
When one speaks of Thailand, often images of elephants are conjured up. Images of elephants are everywhere, from temples and shrines to logos and even the name of their beer (Chang, which means Elephant in Thai). The Thai people seem to have a deep reverence for these magnificent creatures, however, there is a darker almost contradictory side to this appearance.
Almost all of the domesticated elephants (those used for work and human contact) have been subjected to a ‘breaking of the spirit’ in a device called the Phajaan.
Squeezed into a cage only large enough to contain the baby elephant, they are chained into place, beat with sticks of bamboo and poked with sharp devices with hooks and nails. For 6 days or even longer, these elephants as young as 4 are subjected to this brutality without food, water or shelter. This is usually the time they are permanently separated from their mother and family, to begin their life of servitude.
Elephants have largely played a working role in Thailand. Used as war machines by Alexander the Great, they have been used as working animals for logging and farming for generations. With Thailand’s dwindling forests, and now a ban on logging, these elephants are finding themselves out of work and in trouble. Many elephant owners and mahouts (elephant keepers or drivers) have adapted to the tourist industry by using their elephants for jungle treks and walks. Others have used brutal torture techniques to train their elephants to perform tricks or paint. Often in cities around Thailand, you will see elephants begging in the streets for their mahouts, which generate a great deal of income for the owner at a great expense to the elephant.
With all of this brutality and pain, there is a ray of light. The Elephant Nature Park along with its founder, Sangduen Chailert, known as ‘Lek’, have created a sanctuary for these retired and abused elephants and is educating people around the world about the plight of these Asian Elephants. › Continue reading
Life on The Discovery Channel
I am just utterly compelled to release my excitement over the new series on the Discovery Channel, Life. Quite possibly some of the most amazing wildlife footage since the Planet Earth series, it may even top it! I haven’t been this excited about a show/series since Sharkweek, and that was like 12 years ago.
Advancements in High Definition cameras, high speed video capabilities and equipment, paired with scientific discovery makes for the most epic viewing experience of some of the most interesting creatures roaming the planet. Fun for kids and adults alike, this is a great way to take your family on a world safari from within you home. Nothing will replace actually experiencing nature, but this is as close as it gets.
I have only seen two episodes so far, Challenges of Life and Reptiles and Amphibians. Featuring some extraordinary creatures that even as a biologist/ecologist, I was unaware of their existence. Breathtaking slow motion and HD footage captivates you unlike any action movie, because it is real. The bizarre and tragic natural world sucks in even the most uninterested. The baby ibex being hunted by a fox in the Challenges of Life episode nearly drove my girlfriend to tears, and she is not one to gravitate to nature shows in the least.
