Many people believe that elephants sleep standing up, but this is a common misconception. When elephants feel safe and comfortable, they will lie down to sleep deeply. At Elephant Nature Park, this simple act is one of the clearest signs that an elephant feels secure.
Elephants are deeply social animals, and the herd is at the heart of their lives. When elephants are free to live as elephants, connected to nature and to each other, their deep family relationships naturally unfold. Within these family groups, every member is connected through touch, sound, scent, and even subtle vibrations, creating a strong sense of belonging, security, and calm.
For elephants, water is far more than a simple drink. It is a lifeline that supports their health, comfort, and happiness every single day. An adult elephant can drink 150 to 200 liters of water daily, but water plays an even greater role than hydration alone. Bathing and swimming are essential parts of an elephant’s natural routine. When elephants have the opportunity to bathe regularly, their skin stays hydrated, healthy, and smooth rather than dry and cracked.
At Elephant Nature Park, Thong Ae is known as a true social butterfly—an elephant whose warmth and curiosity allow her to float effortlessly from one herd to another. Each day, she moves across the fields with purpose and joy, checking in on friends, lifting spirits, and bringing a sense of connection wherever she goes.
Each year on March 13, Thailand observes Thai Elephant Day, a special occasion dedicated to honoring elephants, the country’s most iconic symbol, and raising awareness of the importance of protecting them for future generations. Elephants hold a deep place in Thailand’s history and culture. Intelligent, sensitive, and deeply social, they form strong family bonds and express remarkable empathy and affection within their herds. Their presence has long been woven into the story of the nation.
Mae Lanna and Sao Yai wander side by side through the forested hills, moving at their own unhurried pace. Years ago, this land behind Elephant Nature Park was leased from the local community and carefully restored into a flourishing natural forest where these elephants can roam and forage.
An elephant’s trunk is one of the most extraordinary structures in the animal kingdom. Far more than just a nose, it is a fusion of the upper lip and nose, composed of more than 40,000 muscle bundles that give it immense strength and astonishing precision.
Faa Mai is the guiding light of the Thong Ae family. Each morning brings a fresh spectacle of joy and excitement as they gather to greet the day. Trumpeting, trunk thumping, squeaks, and low rumbling echo across the valley. Some mornings, she breaks into an eager dash toward a mahout and on others, she races straight for the river—all in excitement for the day ahead.
Butterfly girl, Thong Ae, did a wonderful job as nanny, overseeing the little ones during playtime on the sand hill. They look so adorable as they control their slide down the loose earth, letting gravity do its thing.
Grandma Jarunee walks with a style that’s uniquely her own, each step filled with joyful purpose.
Khamla, in a typically graceful moment, ambitiously stretches out her trunk to reach for the juicy leaves while her close companion, Daoruang, leans lovingly into her side. Adorable behaviors like this spontaneously emerge when elephants feel calm and safe – free to explore their surroundings with curiosity and a sense of ease. Just as nature intended.
From a young age, Faa Mai has loved my lullabies. When I sing in the middle of the field, she often gathers the younger elephants, gently guiding them with her trunk. And if they’re scattered in different directions, she will even take me by the arm and lead me to them—because to Faa Mai, being together is what matters most. She is like an elephant ambassador, always working to bring the herd closer, encouraging them to live as one big, peaceful family.
If you’ve ever wondered what true elephant happiness looks like, it’s in these serene moments—elephants sleeping peacefully, completely free of fear or stress, knowing they are safe, loved, and cared for. We are incredibly proud to have created a home where elephants can feel secure—a place where they don’t just survive, but thrive. A place where they can rest anywhere, anytime, knowing this is their forever home, built with love.
Let’s wrap up Songkran with some heartwarming and inspiring moments from our gentle giants and the Elephant Nature Park family.
Beautiful Mintra snacks on fresh grass, then decorates herself by tossing it onto her head – truly at one with Nature.💚🐘 Elephants often use mud, dirt, or even soft grass to cover their bodies.
Here’s a glimpse of that joy — refreshing moments of our elephants that we’d love to share with you during this festive season. Happy Songkran Day!
Though some books claim that elephants only sleep standing up, the truth is they do lie down to sleep when they feel safe. Elephants forced to stand while sleeping often face harsh conditions - short chains that restrict movement, hard concrete floors that cause pressure sores, or dirty, wet surfaces soaked with urine and feces.
The life of elephant nanny at Elephant Nature Park. Learn more about the work of Elephant Nature Park
Faa Mai and Thong Ae, our two playful teenage elephants, are no exception. They long to be loved, to feel connected, and to be noticed by the people they hold dear. At times, they behave like little children—seeking attention through playful actions and gentle mischief. But every bit of their behavior comes from a place of innocence and pure-hearted emotion.
Sri Nuan is known for her reserved yet kind-hearted nature. 💕🐘 She doesn’t often show her emotions, but she has taken on the role of a nanny to many baby elephants here. Rescued from the logging industry, Sri Nuan is blind in one eye, which may explain why she lacks confidence in expressing herself. However, when it comes to taking care of the little ones, her devotion is unwavering.
Just as we enjoy lounging on a comfy couch, elephants love lying on soft sand. After reaching the top of the sandy hill, FaaMai flopped down to relax, surrounded by her family, who were all very chatty on this day.
Thong Ae, the energetic little one, feels particularly playful after her bath. She rubs her skin, kicks a rubber ring around, and then heads over to take a mud bath with Grandma Sri Nuan.
Despite Medo’s physical limitations, her spirit is stronger than ever. Today, we’re happy to share another lovely moment with Medo.💕 With her powerful, articulate trunk, she reaches to grab leaves from the highest branches. Stretching her body and extending her trunk with all her might, she carefully selects the leaves she wants.
A cute moment unfolded when Faa Mai played hide and seek with ‘Mother Lek’. Butterfly Girl Thong Ae and Baby Chaba couldn’t resist joining in on the fun! It warms the heart to see their relaxed, joyful antics – a daily event at ENP!
Since the earthquake on the 28th, we have been closely observing the behavior of each group of elephants at Elephant Nature Park (ENP) to understand how they react to the aftershocks that followed the major earthquake in Chiang Mai Province. More than two hundred aftershocks have occurred since the initial quake. While humans may occasionally feel tremors of magnitude 1-4—sometimes just as a brief feeling of dizziness—elephants perceive far more.
Elephants are remarkably intelligent and sensitive animals and take a discerning approach to their meals. They’ll meticulously shake the dirt off roots and tubers with their trunks, ensuring their food is clean before taking a bite.🐘✨
Male elephants in musth typically exhibit irritability and aggression, making this a dangerous period where mahouts must exercise extreme caution. But Navann is different. His musth behavior is unlike most others. Instead of becoming aggressive or stressed, Navann remains happy, playful, and full of energy during this period.
The Touch of Love ❤️
Elephant Nature Park sends our thoughts and support to everyone affected by today’s earthquake in Thailand and Myanmar. We hope you all stay safe, take care, and remain vigilant.
MalaiThong has been watching the little ones have fun with the tire, and today she decided it was her turn to join in! She couldn’t resist the excitement and had a wonderful time playing. It’s wonderful to see her playful side shine!
The coordinated grace of the Khamla herd is beautiful to witness. This single-file marching, sometimes called a "trunk-to-tail" procession, is common in matriarchal herds. Infrasound hums through the herd, syncing every step.
After a refreshing dip in the river, Thong Ae – aka Butterfly Girl – was in an especially cheerful mood while taking her ritual dust bath! Her playful charm, relishing every moment, put a smile on the faces of everyone looking on—her happiness is truly contagious!
Despite being completely blind, Jokia moves with natural confidence, navigating her surroundings with ease. As one of the first elephants to be rescued by Lek, her many years at Elephant Nature Park have given her a strong sense of familiarity, security, and trust. Such a gorgeous old girl.
Watch those joyful tails swing! The happy herd savor their treats in a wave of harmonious satisfaction.
On a beautiful morning, kissed by sunlight and a cool breeze, the lovely Khamla lies down on the grass, soaking up the warmth, while her family watches over her protectively. Even though Khamla has grown into a young adult, she is still the youngest in her herd. To them, she remains their little one, the heart of their family, cherished by all.
Grandma Jokia is having so much fun playing with the suspended tires and is no doubt glad to have the joyful company of little Lek Lek, who is rubbing against the log nearby. Jokia lives a full and happy life despite her blindness and is relishing her role as nanny to baby Lek Lek.
After several days apart, Faa Mai and the little ones rejoiced in seeing Mother Lek! Especially Faa Mai, who rushed to pull Lek close, grabbing onto her hat string and leading her along while enjoying being serenaded with a lullaby.