Elephant Show  
  Homestay  
  Elephant Riding  
  Trekking  
  Training to ride an elephant  
       
  Origins  
  Position and Size  
  Geography  
  The way we work  
       
 
     

 
 
 
   
 
 
     
 

 
 

 
     
  Training the elephant logging techniques  
 

    The policy of the FIO is to train elephants at 3-4 years, depending on size and health, by immobilization in a corral, which acclimates the elephant to being chained and shackled, and trains it to raise its leg for the mahout to mount and dismount, to accept a rider, to be bathed etc. This training will take about one month. Later on, elephants will be trained for other tasks, such as:

 
     
     
 
  • to walk in a single file
  • to stand in a half - circle and salute.
  • to assist the mahout in mounting and dismounting by using the front legs, by bowing the head and by lying down.
  • To drag timber alone or in pairs; to receive and hand over logs.
  • To use a logging harness for hauling timber alone or in pairs.
  • To pick up and stack logs.
  • Younger elephants may also demonstrate ability in painting or playing music. The training will be carried on until the elephant reaches 11-12 years of age. When the animal is big enough and capable of logging, it will be sent for light work along with the elephants in the forest plantations of the FIO. Techniques of logging by elephants are also demonstrated at the Institute every day, with three shows Monday-Sunday at 10.00 AM , 11.00 AM. and 1.30 PM.
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    Todate: 03 July 2009  
      Link to Relatate Website
      The Forest Industry Organization  
      Ministry of Agriculture And Cooperatives  
      Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment  
      Royal Thai Government  
      Royal Forest Department  
      Department of Livestock Development  
      National Park,Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department  
      Zoological Park Orgazation Under The Royal Patronage of M.H. The king  
      The Elephant Alliance of Thailand (E.A.T.)  
      Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand  
      Wild Animal Reseuce Foundation of Thailand  
      Green World Foundation  
      World Wildlife Foundation of Thailand  
      Elephant Reintroduction Foundation  
           
       
     
     
    THE NATIONAL ELEPHANT INSTITUTE
    km. 28-29 Lampang - Chiang Mai Highway, Hang Chat Lampang 52190 Thailand
    Tel : 66-5424-7876, Fax : 66-5424-7896
    email : info@thailandelephant.org