The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC), founded in 1993 under Royal Patronage, cares for more than 50 Asian elephants in a beautiful forest conveniently located near the famous city of Chiang Mai. Beyond being an exciting tourist experience, the TECC is also known for its pioneering work in conservation and science. The TECC also proudly houses six of HM King Bhumibol's ten white elephants in the Royal Elephant Stables.
As Thailand's only government-owned elephant camp, the TECC promotes affordability and accessibility. The admission price is only 200 baht for adults ) and 100 baht for children. Being often visited by Thai families and schoolchildren, the TECC's foreign guests never feel caught on the tourist trail. Guidebooks consistently praise the TECC for its relaxed, non-commercial atmosphere.
The TECC offers many enjoyable Activities. Day trip "musts" include watching elephant bathing, the elephant show and a visit to see our baby elephants. Most guests take an elephant-back ride and tour our hospital. Overnight activities include our popular Homestay program and trekking in the forest.
Active in Conservation, the TECC operates an onsite Hospital and manages Thailand's first mobile clinic, treating needy elephants free of charge. The TECC has an excellent natural breeding rate, usually producing at least two baby elephants a year.
The TECC has also done cutting-edge research in Science, especially in reproduction and artificial insemination as well as major studies in the biomechanics of how elephants move ("locomotion").
The TECC has broken new ground in Arts & Culture. It was the first place in Thailand where elephants learned painting. It is also the home of the internationally famous Thai Elephant Orchestra.
The TECC is operated by the Forest Industry Organization, a State Enterprise of the government of Thailand. It houses the National Elephant Institute of Thailand, a center of learning which shares its vast library and trained specialists with other agencies and organizations working to help the country's 2,700 domesticated elephants.
The TECC offers many exciting and educational activities for both daytrips and overnight stays. Several Restaurants offer Thai and European food, and several gift shops sell souvenirs, handicrafts and elephant paintings.
DAY TRIP
Our 40 minute Show is the highlight for most visitors, featuring traditional logging techniques but also showing elephants painting pictures, making music, demonstrating agility, and more. There are three shows a day: 10 am, 11 am, and 1:30 pm. Bathing (9:40 am, 1:10 pm) synchronizes with shows because the performers have their aquatic fun just before the first and last shows.
Other activities happen all day long, or at least until 3:30 pm when the elephants are taken into the forest for the night. A Hospital Visit is best early in the morning because that it when most treatments are done. Calves, in a nursery area between the bathing pond and the hospital, arrive early in the morning. Elephant Rides are fun anytime of day but most pleasant in the cool of the morning. The Dung Paper factory is open all day long.
Both Trekking and Homestay offer one-day programs but they must be booked in advance, just like overnight programs.
OVERNIGHT
Two overnight options are available for individuals and small groups wanting a one-to-one experience with 'their own' elephant. (Many repeat visitors ask for the same elephant year after year.) Homestay has One-, Two-, and Three-day programs which assign each guest with a carefully selected elephant to learn how to handle and care for. (On graduation day most guests perform in the show.) Nights are spent relaxing or hanging out with mahouts and their families. Trekking programs are very similar with two crucial differences: they happen in the quiet atmosphere of the Mahout Training School and much longer packages can be arranged, even up to a month. Trekking programs put more emphasis on the mahout's way of life and the details of elephant-keeping. Some trekking programs involve camping out in the forest with mahouts and elephants. Group tours can be arranged.
The National Elephant Institute was founded as the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) in 1993. In January 2002, in order to enlarge the scope of conservation efforts and address the issues facing Thailand's elephants, it was proposed that the TECC be renamed the National Elephant Institute. It is located in Amphoe Hang Chat, Lampang Province. Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine is associated with the Institute.[1]
The main objective for the establishment of the new National Elephant Institute is to develop elephant conservation in a sustainable way and preserve local traditions for future generations. The Institute also aims to improve the tourism business, in which there is an extensive involvement of elephants in tourism-related activities, for the benefit of elephants as well as tourists. The National Elephant Institute is a World Elephant Day associate.
Approximately 80 kilometers from Chiang Mai, right on the Lampang -. Chiang Mai Highway "Hang Chat" on 28-29 Km is the Thai Elephant Conservation Center Lampang. There are elephants that have no owner, or are sick, maintained at the Elephant Hospital.
9:45 clock opens the attachment for visitors, admission is relative to other tourist attractions cheap (200 baht) and the program offered quite instructive. You get a glimpse of how the elephants live and are housed. Moreover, even 3x are presented elephant shows daily, like elephants were formerly used as elephants and elephants paint pictures that are offered for sale after the show.
In the Thai Elephant Conservation Center tourists can even undergo training for Mahout. Are offered courses from one day up to one month. During this time, a basic knowledge about leading an elephant to be taught and gets for this time his own elephant for the budding Mahout is also responsible.
All training participants who have booked a multi-day training course will be housed in this time with full board in bungalows, plus there is the typical blue work clothes mahouts and many impressions from the everyday life of an elephant camp.
Prices mahout training course
A day course costs 3500 baht, a 3-day training 8500 baht, the 10-day training 35,000 baht, multi-day treks 12,000 baht and who want to make a complete education for Mahout, which lasts a month, to pay 100,000 baht. Definitely a very special experience is, especially for nature and animal lovers!
It is interesting visit to the Elephant Hospital, where tourists can watch elephants injured receive medical care. Other facilities such as inexpensive restaurants, information center, souvenir shops and plenty of parking spaces are located at the main entrance (right on the highway). To inquire about the huge area, standing at the entrance several shuttle buses are available (10 baht).
Conclusion: For a day trip, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is thoroughly recommended!
More information is available on the website of the Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC)
Treating sick elephants
The TECC acts as a centre for research and is at the forefront in treating sick elephants in Thailand. In addition to an on-site hospital, a mobile clinic and rescue unit treats elephants in distress free of charge wherever they may be in the kingdom. There is also a special area (the Pang La sanctuary) dedicated to looking after those elephants that are simply too old or have been badly injured and their former owners can no longer afford to keep them.
Some of the elephants that are brought to the TECC suffer from preventable injuries and part of the centre’s outreach program is the Elephant Care Manual which is combined with practical tips and advice for mahouts and owners to teach them better ways to look after their elephants.
Elephant research and conservation
Home to scientists and specialists in their field, the TECC has been at the vanguard of research and scientific developments over the years with the aim of promoting the well-being of the estimated 2,700 elephants in Thailand which are kept in captivity. The experts at the TECC were responsible for the breeding of a calf using artificial insemination and in honour of the technique the baby elephant was called ‘A.I.’ and has grown into a healthy young elephant that now takes part in some of the shows.
Elephant show and rides
The TECC offers elephant rides and also puts on a 40-minute show three times a day which highlights the agility and intelligence of these graceful creatures. The TECC is the first place in Thailand where elephants were taught how to paint and it’s also home of the Thai Elephant Orchestra. As well as producing paintings and music, the elephants demonstrate techniques formerly used in the logging industry.
Show times: 10.00, 11.00 and 13.30
Bathing of elephants: 09.40 and 13.10
Elephant painting
At the shows, some elephants will produce paintings. The TECC makes no secret of the fact that this is a commercial venture with the funds from the sale of these paintings helping to fund the work of the centre. The TECC insist that no elephants are forced into painting and only those that do so willingly are used. This is a harmless process whereby the movements of the elephant are carefully controlled by a mahout with a subtle hand on the ear, tusk or mouth.
Mahout training and homestay
If you want to become an elephant handler (mahout) it’s possible to book a stay at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre where you can learn the ropes. This is also available as a one-day course if your time is limited. Once you have ‘graduated’ as a mahout you may also be given the opportunity to bathe your adopted elephant and take part in one of the daily shows. Trainee mahouts have the option of staying with the Thai mahouts and their families in basic accommodation or in more comfortable surroundings in a village-style environment with bungalows. There is also the option of trekking trips where you will get to experience life in the forest with the other mahouts and their elephants.
The Royal Elephant Stables
His Majesty the King of Thailand owns ten white elephants with six of them housed at the Royal Elephant Stables within the grounds of the TECC. The Royal Stables aren’t usually open to the public, but some of the white elephants are on show for selected special occasions.
National Elephant Institute (NEI)
The NEI helps to support private owners of elephants in Thailand and improves public awareness which means that the centre isn’t just aimed at making money from overseas tourists. You will see more Thai families and youngsters here than you will at most of the other elephant camps in Thailand with the NEI promoting the cause of the creatures to local people.
How to get to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre
The Thai Elephant Conservation Centre is located in Lampang province, but is easy to reach from the city of Chiang Mai. Buses from Chiang Mai Arcade bus station to Lampang pass the TECC which is in between the 28 and 29 km markers on the main Chiang Mai-Lampang highway. The bus will stop outside the main entrance which will leave you with a short walk into the main area where you can buy your entrance ticket and get on board one of the shuttle buses that go around the park. When buying your bus ticket from Chiang Mai explain where you are going and again when you board the bus. The TECC is approximately 60-70 minutes out of Chiang Mai. Alternatively, you can arrange to hire an air-conditioned taxi or a songthaew for private hire. Either do this directly or via any respectable tour office in Chiang Mai. From Lampang, the journey is around 30-40 minutes and you can follow a similar procedure to either hire a taxi/songthaew or take a Chiang Mai-bound bus. Regular buses ply the route and when returning to Chiang Mai or Lampang just wait on the opposite side to that which you were dropped off and flag down the bus when it approaches.
Facilities
The TECC is too big to comfortably explore on foot and a shuttle bus service (20 Baht each) is the best way to get around. Private cars and songthaews have to park in the main car park near the main entrance/exit. There are a number of places to buy food and drink with restaurants serving Thai and international food.
Cost
Entrance for non-Thai visitors was 150 Baht in 2012, but is now showing as 200 Baht on the TECC’s own website. Entrance fees go towards the upkeep of the elephants and the ongoing welfare and development programs. Accommodation starts from 500 Baht going up to around 1,500 Baht. Elephant rides are charged extra according to the duration of the ride.
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