The Mother of Elephants: ‘Lek’ Chailert, Elephant Nature Park, and the Gendering of Elephant Husbandry (Op-Ed)

Abstract

Often described as “elephant heaven,” Elephant Nature Park (ENP) is a sanctuary located in Chiang Mai Province in Northern Thailand. Begun in 1995 by Sangduen “Lek” Chailert with a single elephant, ENP is now home to over sixty elephant rescues. Tourists wishing to visit ENP can choose between booking a day excursion or a weeklong “voluntourism” stay. In contrast to traditional methods of training and handling elephants, ENP employs positive reinforcement and target training to manage its herd. Although ENP’s approach has been described as “ecocentric,” I argue here that it actually represents a feminization of both the management of elephants and the animal itself, which has ultimately become a key to its success.