The DoDo – Elephant Won’t Let Favorite Person Go Into River Alone

Beyond the mountainous landscapes and lush jungles of Northern Thailand lies a haven for the gentlest of creatures. "Many of them arrive here like a zombie, some of them arrive here and they don't know they are elephants, they stand still ... they walk in a circle," said Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, founder of the Elephant Nature Park.

Lek Saengduean Chailert, founder and director of Elephant Nature Park, stands with two rescued elephants at her sanctuary. It has many supporters, especially on social media, so during the pandemic she and her team have been fundraising to provide food and resources to dozens of camps around Thailand.

Elephant Nature Park has been recognised as the Wildlife Sanctuary of the Year at the Prestige Awards ceremony held at Hazlewood Castle, near Leeds, UK. The award celebrates excellence and dedication in our field

Elephant Nature Park is one of the best-known elephant conservation projects in Thailand. Set on the edge of a rainforest near Chiang Mai, in Thailand’s north, the sanctuary was founded by award-winning conservationist Lek Chailert in 1995. More than 75 elephants roam free here and each has a heart-breaking story: many have been saved from torturous camps that exploit elephants for tourism or logging purposes or other abusive situations.

Conservationist Sangdeaun Lek Chailert, known simply as Lek, who has been dubbed the “elephant whisperer” because of her ability to connect with the animals, has made it her life’s work to protect and save the species in her home country of Thailand.