I’d like to recommend this park for all vistors to Chiang Mai. Elephant Nature Park. I haven’t personally been there, but I’ve had many people recommend it !
Dave has spent 4 days at the park. Go and read how he experianced it !
He also gave these tips…
Do NOT give money to feed elephants on city streets. You may feel sorry for them, but what they don’t tell you is that they are owned by rich people, not the beggars you see, who make a profit on the suffering of the elephants as they wander the hot, hard, dangerous streets– don’t fall for this scam! The elephants are usually weak, hungry and scared, and usually torn from their mothers when far too young; they don’t belong in the city, period. If nobody gives them money they’ll stop the cruel practice.
Pretty much any time you see elephants in some kind of show or display designed to get your pity– and hence your money– remember, they’ve all been through the phajaan torture, and think: do you want to support and perpetuate this? Be an educated traveler, not a clueless tourist, and don’t pay for animal
Here another interesting article I read ‘An Abolitionist for elephants’ by Kenneth Champeon.