Elephant Love

A while back, Peter and I visited the Elephant Nature Park, a short distance from Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand.  The park is home to both young and old elephants who have been rescued from extreme abuse at the hands of those who used them for profit.  Some were blinded by their owners when they did not perform their work duties well - usually because they were overworked and malnourished. Some were forced to beg on city streets like a sideshow act, and one was even forced to keep working after watching her baby die in a work accident.  As I pet their massive trunks and fed them squash, pineapples, and bananas, I got a sense of just how intelligent and sensitive these creatures are.  My heart broke at the thought of how much they once suffered and the physical and emotional scars they now carry.  It was amazing to be able to connect with them so closely, even if it was just for a short time.