![\"Elephant](\"https:\/\/www.neuropool.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Pattaya-ELephant-Village.jpg\")
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The gigantic animals have always been the mark of hard labour in the jungles of Thailand. The elephant village of Pattaya therefore consists of huge herds of former working animals. <\/p>\n
The elephant village was opened in 1973 as accommodation for retired working elephants. These elephants could no longer be used for health or age reasons. Due to the constantly shrinking natural habitat of the elephants, it is no longer possible to release the animals back into the wild.<\/p>\n
The elephant village gives the animals a safe haven where they can enjoy their retirement. Maintaining an elephant is very expensive; an elephant needs between 1000 and 1500 baht per day. Visitors to the elephant village therefore contribute to the survival of the elephants with their entrance fee. The elephant village is a private, non-profit organisation. After deducting expenses, all money goes towards feeding and medical care for the elephants. The welfare of the animals takes centre stage.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In the elephant village, the capture of an elephant is demonstrated, as well as the typical day of an elephant, from daily bathing and feeding to the training of the working elephant. The performances in the elephant village have nothing to do with conventional circus shows, elephant football or similar tricks are not shown here. Instead, it is about the real everyday life of an elephant.<\/p>\n
The trekking (Combination Trekking) takes about three and a half hours and does not include the performances. It starts with a one-hour ride on the elephant, followed by a 20-minute walk through the jungle. You then take the ferry across the lake and return to the elephants on an oxcart. On return to the elephant village, a hot meal is served. Trekking takes place twice a day between 10.30am and 10am and costs 2000 baht for adults and 1600 for children under one metre.<\/p>\n
A one-hour elephant ride costs 1200 baht and takes place at 9am, 10.30am, 12.30pm and 4pm. The ride takes about 50 minutes on elephant back to Silk House and back to the village by Land Rover. Seasonal fruits are served there. Bookings should be made in advance. Two people are carried per elephant.<\/p>\n
The elephant show costs 650 baht (500 baht for children under one metre) and takes place between 2.30 and 4 pm. There you can see the training of a working elephant, bathing techniques and a demonstration of a woodworking elephant. It continues with an insight into the life of a war elephant. There is a 5-minute break during which visitors can feed the elephants with bananas. At the end of the show there is a short ride on the elephant.<\/p>\n