About us

Who We Are

Thai Elephant Home was founded by Nayok Satien and is run by the manager, Joe . Guests will soon meet the friendly team, including Joe’s friendly wife and his son Oishi. Thai Elephant Home was something the owner wanted to do for years. He grew up around elephants and as a young man worked as a travelling salesman that allowed him to meet elephants in many inaccessible areas. The communities there soon learned to trust him and to turn to him for help when their elephants were unwell. Learning to administer these elephants medicine increased his love of the animals and he trained at the famous elephant hospital in Lampang, before opening Thai Elephant Home in 2006.

Meet Our Elephants

We are a small family-run business and there is a waiting list of elephant owners who want to keep their elephants at our home. This is because at Thai Elephant Home we look after the elephants well. Sadly in some parts of the country, elephants are made to work even if they are old, pregnant or unwell. In other camps they are made to carry people on a heavy elephant box with blankets. Here at Ban Chang we do not use these carosouls but ride bareback, which is better for the elephants and makes for a more authentic experience.
We would like to be able to expand , but in the mean time here are some of the select few staying at Thai Elephant Home.
Meet Noi, who is owned by the park’s general manager Joe. Noi has had a sad start in life before Joe came along. She was forced to walk busy bustling streets for 12 hours a day trying to get tourists to pay her owner for the privilege of feeding her a banana. It was long hot work in bewildering streets full of cars and teasing children. She is now much happier at Thai Elephant Park.
Pakboong was born in 2003. She’s never had to work, and is a lazy greedy little character. If you have a banana handy she will do anything for you, but otherwise, you might have to trick her.

Waan is a hilarious character who has been filmed for an American documentary, and is always looking to learn new tricks. Very loyal to her owner, who spends a lot of time working with her, little Waan, born in 2005, already has her sights set on an Oscar.
Boonsi is another elephant with a sad story. She was born in 1967 and only came to the home in May 2009. She spent the majority of the other 42 years working hard in the jungle. In many ways patient, strong, and the leader of the group, Boonsi is also very hesitant. She’s scared of cars and loud noises, doesn’t like people behind her and is a little slow to trust.
Jampar is a youngster of the team, just born in 2004. He has no worries in life, having spent the first few years of his life following his mum around another park. In the early days of his stay he seemed a bit of a cool surfer dude, but he’s also the only male elephant so far, and the feminine touch could rub off on him.

Sommai - is a an old and wise mother of the group. Her young baby is constantly by her side and she is a very protecting and nuturing mother. The baby is only two years old and quite mischievous and rambunctious, He will be trained in the coming years but for now enjoys bugging his mother and playing in the mud.