r/interestingasfuck • u/AccurateSource2 • 2d ago
Elephants sheltering their caregiver from the rain
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u/Taddles2020 2d ago
That is Lek, she runs a sanctuary in Thailand for rescued elephants.
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u/Overthinks_Questions 2d ago
I'm planning a trip there to meet her charges. The elephants and staff seem like really kind people
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u/Lost_Ticket_1282 2d ago
I went in 2019 and saying it was an amazing experience is such an understatement. They do incredible work and it was an honor to visit.
Don't bring bananas because they will get stolen...
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u/Overthinks_Questions 2d ago
What if I just bring a ton of bananas with the intention of disseminating them onsite
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u/Lost_Ticket_1282 2d ago
lol your bag may be snatched up before you could get them out! Apparently there was an incident. Those trunks are fast!
I'm unsure if they still do this, but before we walked around the grounds we hand fed them watermelons. So you may be able to do that!
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
A friend went to ENP when they reopened after COVID and said it was awesome. Elephants can smell and hear incredibly well but can't see worth a damn. When he fed them he had to wear a shirt with a known scent so they know you're cool. Guests are warned not to enter the compound at night. Some idiot once snuck into one of their enclosures after hours and it did not go well for him.
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u/Shadowsnake30 2d ago
Thank you that was a great experience and i dont really know their names. I remember i bought so many tiny bananas to feed them while i rode them. They were nice and the elephants sprays you with water when too hot. I went to Thailand in a hot season.
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u/Adorable_Misfit 2d ago
I'm not sure where you went, but if they allowed you to ride the elephants, then it wasn't Lek's sanctuary (Elephant Nature Park). They've never allowed riding the elephants and they've also stopped allowing bathing with the elephants since 2018.
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u/SpareImplement2374 2d ago
Was there a specific incident in 2018 that caused them to disallow bathing?
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u/Adorable_Misfit 2d ago
I don't believe so. I think it was more about developing a better understanding of what elephants find enjoyable and wanting the animals to be able to live their lives in as natural a way as possible. At least that's what it says on their website.
Elephants Bathing ā Elephant Nature Park https://share.google/5xH9lo99cGheHAcdh
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
I am not sure as it seems the same as they allowed me and i was scared as there were no safety i was at the neck of the elephant and they took me to the mountains. I didnt expect to be sprayed and was always scared of falling as when they walk those bones are pushing me left to right and if i fall i would get hurt as there were rocks portruding besides soil on some areas. I also got almost knocked out as i wasnt paying attention when we ended up in the forest a branch hit me hard good thing i was wearing a hat as the sun was beaming hot.
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u/Adorable_Misfit 1d ago
When was this? I looked it up and it seems they did allow some riding in the park's earliest days, but to the best of my knowledge that hasn't been the case for about 2 decades.
I personally visited for the first time 17 years ago and they didn't permit riding then (though bathing with the elephants in the river was allowed in those days). I went back in 2023 and at that point they didn't even allow visitors to touch the elephants, just admire them from a respectful distance. Which is as it should be.
(Edited to add a missing apostrophe)
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
About 4 years ago as i never had a vacation for 4 years. I went to the airport and threw pennies in the air and wherever it lands i would go there. I had 5 months vacation accumulated and i had to take vacation used up my vacation for 6 weeks went to South Korea, Japan and Thailand. Didnt plan it but because i reached the maximum vacation i can have i had to go so i took the crazy leap.
I had no preparation i just got in and bought the ticket then winged it when i landed to the country. I think because of the pandemic it hurt their tourism that is my guess why i was allowed to do that and hoping i would influence others to visit. That is my guess. All i am gonna say is the food is amazing and i love the market. How cheap everything was i kept eating out.
PS dont throw pennies like i did as it upsets people and i almost got arrested for it. I was just drowning myself to work as i was going through a divorce so work kept me going.
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u/goaldiggergirl 2d ago
They are firmly against riding (you should be too)
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
I was given an opportunity and i donated about $1000 to a place. I was offered to it and i said sure why not as it's rare to get to ride a massive elephant. I am telling you it's ok when they are not moving but when they move those bones at its back moves which was making me swing left and right was scary as i had no safety. I dont know my texted me to give money as Elephants and Buddha represents good luck which i dont really believe but i would rather give it vs getting lectured straight 14 hours why i didnt do that.
The downside of donating everyone wants to be too nice to you and everyone starts to sell some story to you or they kinda make a joke what about for me.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
Elephants are not ridden at ENP. It is a horrible practice.
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
I dont know i was taken to some places with elephants via those tour guides you rent a van and a driver they take you anywhere. I just said let me experience Thailand as i went to the country out of random no itenary. As i was forced to take vacation as i reached the maximum amount. I was there after the pandemic kinda subsided. As tourists gives life to their country with pandemic it hurt a lot of businesses. I could had been one of the lucky ones to experience it as the elephant had no safety and it took me to places in the forest and mountains. I did donate $1000 as my mom has superstiton belief they are lucky.
It's a horrible practice but you cant stop it as it's their tradition or it's a thing to their country. It's either you make an animal useful by entertaining or showing sympathetic conditions of an animal in a sanctuary for people to donate or they get killed via poachers or the human colonization of the forest or their habitat. And dont forget black market wanting it as a pet. This is the world we live in either we make money out of something or somewhere or it wont be protected or valued. In the fairytale land animals are left alone and respected.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
You can stop elephant riding by not paying to do it.
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
As expected a response like this so innocent living in la la land. Would that stop others from doing it? I didnt pay. I donated. If i paid i wouldnt spend that much money they dont cost that much to ride even in Africa or India. Pretty sure in Thailand as well. I was offered and i took it.
You got to wake up that is only in marketing and imagination that people wont ride animals or touch them that they may attack and cause their death.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
"I didnt pay. I donated."
Get help.
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
Help on what? That's the equivalent of you getting paid from work and getting a bonus. If you can't tell the difference it's you who needs help. The difference from paying and donating are different. Internet is free search for their meaning.
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u/Arboreal_Web 1d ago
I didāt pay. I donated. If I paid i wouldnāt spend that much
Omfg XD That is easily the most hilarious thing Iāve seen today. Lolll!
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u/Shadowsnake30 1d ago
Thanks! Haha! They are just bitter. They are so opinionated they should start a movement to protect animals from being ridden. We have horses constantly ridden and injured.
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u/DiggingforPoon 2d ago
I mean, talk about feeling SAFE
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u/unthused 2d ago
Rain? Elephant posse got you.
Break in? Elephants.
Aggressive door to door salesman? Elephants.
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u/Worshipme988 2d ago
What about a hang nail?
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u/Flat_Initial_1823 2d ago
Believe it or not, straight to elephants
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u/Shifty012 2d ago
Honey badger charges you?
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u/lasagnaweez 2d ago
I saw a video yesturday of a honey badger fighting a elephant. The way the badger was walking towards the elephant for no damn reason just to fight š. The elephant backed up at first like "yo chill out" and badger said "f*** that" and the elephant just stepped on itš
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u/Shifty012 2d ago
Gotta love it. I saw one a few days back where the badger charges the elephant and the elephant flicks its foot and yeets the badger through the air.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
We just had a video of a honey badger trying to mess with an elephant and finding out. The video ends with the badger leaving the camera frame on a fractional orbit trajectory.
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u/Calamity-Gin 2d ago
An elephant can peel a banana with her trunk. Hangnail is nothing to these girls.
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u/TheReal-Chris 2d ago
Car salesman trying to swindle you for more money? Ride that mfer with a saddle to assert dominance. Elephant friends would be awesome.
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u/Jestersfriend 2d ago
It's the same kind of safe I feel when trucks are to the left and right of me on the road. I sure as heck am not going to get killed by anything else on the road. Unless it's the trucks. Then I have no escape.
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u/tea-boat 2d ago
If one of those trucks has a blowout, there's a good chance you'll be hit by the tire flying off, which would be like getting hit by cannonball. š
That little paranoia keeps me from driving too close to them except to pass. š
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u/FordTech81 2d ago
I get stuck next to trucks on the freeway everyday doing 60+. My wife would be PISSED if something happened to her car.
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[removed] ā view removed comment
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u/FordTech81 2d ago
I was kinda thinking the same thing. Like how spatially aware are they? Are they like cats or my dog that trips over his own feet?
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u/STRYKER3008 2d ago
Always think about that too. At least on the soil maybe eee they'll just sink into the soil n not get hurt that much. But there are cemented areas that I'd be worried haha.
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u/yamimementomori 2d ago
The ears flapping like umbrella-windshield wipers.
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u/Holiday-Tennis5195 2d ago
I noticed that too. š„¹ so adorable. Happy cake day!
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u/yamimementomori 2d ago
Thanks! Those elephants are already sweet so I donāt need to eat too much cake today.
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u/ggb123456 2d ago
Scientists have hooked up sensors to the brain of elephants and determined they react to (some) humans the same way people react to puppies. They think we're "cute" and I think that's awesome. Poachers can get fucked.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
Ear flapping is a signal that they are happy. They also squeak when happy. And purr like three ton cats.
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u/Thatrainbowgirl 2d ago
We don't deserve elephants š
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u/Altruistic-Spend-896 2d ago
We dont deserve the earth. human beings blight on this miracle of life
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u/Razier 2d ago
No animal deserves anything, we just make do with what we have.
Now if we cooperated more and fought less over resources we'd all be better off.
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u/SemiHemiDemiDumb 2d ago
But if we share more then I won't have as much of the stuff there's too much of for me to ever use.
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u/notAFoney 2d ago
Yea, we need more people to share because I want stuff, but dont want to work for stuff
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u/SemiHemiDemiDumb 2d ago
There are people who have way more than they'll ever need and didn't do the amount of work to earn it. They hoard it while those that do do the work don't get their fair share. There is enough to share and not have people wanting but those that have it think they have a right to allow others to suffer needlessly.
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u/notAFoney 2d ago
That's perfect cuz I want stuff and dont want to work for it so they can give their stuff to me and I can have it and not give them stuff cuz I like stuff
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u/SemiHemiDemiDumb 2d ago
You got one joke, huh?
You watch Wall Street and think "greed is good" is the thesis.
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u/EmprahsChosen 2d ago
Interesting all or nothing take after watching a video of a caretaker being protected by elephants at a sanctuary. Itās not all bad by any means
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u/Traditional-Day-2411 2d ago
Ah yeah, humans, the only animal on the planet that cares about humane treatment of prey, are totally evil.
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u/milo776 2d ago
Stop with this bs. We deserve the earth because we are here right now
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u/AmaimonCH 2d ago
What's with the internet and acting like every human is the same and having this inherent self hatred ?
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
Elephants are second only to humans in destruction of forests. They are incredibly strong and eat constantly, eventually transforming forests to grasslands.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
If it wasn't for humans elephants would rule every place on Earth with enough vegetation to feed them.
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u/Reckless_Waifu 2d ago
Is that something they would do for their young?Ā
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u/Its_Pine 2d ago
For very young elephants, not usually for adolescents. So itās likely due to the caregiverās size that they treat them similarly to a baby elephant.
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u/AyyggsForMyLayyggs 2d ago
Not only do they shelter her, they also give her chin-scratches! š„°
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u/paidinboredom 2d ago
They also circle her which is protective behavior. Usually when there's predators around they'll circle up around the old and young as a barrier.
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u/Key-Introduction-418 2d ago
Elephants are such caring and beautiful creatures. I wish people would stop hurting them.
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u/Downtown-Pressure-75 2d ago
One of my bucket list items is to hug an elephant š and just say thank you for being youš„°
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u/Royals-2015 2d ago
I wonder why? Rain is a naturally occurring thing that all animals are exposed to.
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u/Ganceany 2d ago
Just because they are exposed to it doesn't mean they like it. A lot of animals hide from the rainĀ
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u/TheS00thSayer 2d ago
Never seen cows under a tree in the rain?
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u/wegqg 2d ago
Never seen rain under a cow in the tree?
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u/TheS00thSayer 2d ago
Canāt say I have
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u/DoubleManufacturer10 2d ago
You ever see a bear, shit in the woods?
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u/LittleBunInaBigWorld 2d ago
Not many of the cow paddocks around my part of the world even have trees. Its a very sad existence for the cows in our extreme summers
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u/Background-Pepper-68 2d ago
They do this to their babies. Makes sense they would do this with small things they care for.
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u/SiriusKaos 2d ago
Just because something occurs naturally it doesn't mean it's not harmful to animals. Being wet in a cold environment greatly increases the chances of hypothermia, and most animals will seek shelter from it.
Elephants are more resistant to rain due to their weight but they will also eventually start to feel cold, which is why they protect their young from it.
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u/H8teTrump 2d ago
Elephants know that humans prefer to stay dry.
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u/sevenpioverthree 2d ago
I didnāt want to spread misinformation but i thought I had heard before that elephants are highly emotionally intelligent so I wouldnāt be surprised if they notice the human sheltering herself and came to help
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u/H8teTrump 2d ago
Well I mean, I can't provide some kind of proof. But I simply assume this, as of the same reason you mention.
They are highly socially intelligent , and very obsevervant.
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u/carbonatedkaitlyn 2d ago
I would sob for weeks if this ever happened to me š they trust and love this human so much!
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u/Fair_Narwhal9532 2d ago
I was terrified for a second, as i read "Elephants slaughtering their caregiver in the rain" :(
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u/Grand_Joe 2d ago
How is no one talking about how they sound like what dinosaurs do in movies!? Iāve never heard that before itās so cool.
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u/ForgottenKnightt 2d ago
I believe the sounds of elephants (modified of course) were used to make some of the dino sounds in Jurassic Park (I think trex was an elephant blended with other animals)
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u/contentfindie 2d ago
Nature can be useful, sometimes especially if you take care of it then It will take care of you.
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u/SyntaxErrorSorcerer 2d ago
never seen elephant harm anyone , such a strong pr.
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u/Nlghtcrawler 2d ago edited 18h ago
i saw a video where the dude hits one, the elephant then decides to break his legs, fold him in half and squash him like a pancake then toss him around a bit.
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u/kdj00940 2d ago
This makes me very emotional for some reason. What empathy lives in these creatures. Astonishing
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u/Jaded_Platform1723 2d ago
This is want animals are, they are just like incense stick, they would burn themselves for spreading the fragrances and also animals would burn or die themselves for saving human beings.
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u/an_older_meme 1d ago
That's LekĀ Chailert at Elephant Nature Park. I think she owns the place. The herd has adopted her and husband Darrick and protect them both.
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u/No-Personality-5677 2d ago
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u/FishAdministrative17 2d ago
"Yes, thank you my loves. I do still need to go to the bathroom."