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Mahout Training
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We signed up for Mahout Training based on a recommendation from our Global Village leaders and we are really glad that we did. We loved spending 2 days with the elephants - they are such interesting and beautiful animals.
There are about 50 elephants at the camp and there is also an elephant hospital. We arrived early in the morning and changed into our jump suits (like prison uniforms), and walked out the show grounds where we expected to watch the show before meeting our elephants. We were immediately asked our name and shown to an elephant and told to get right on it! It was the perfect way to avoid any fear - no time! Monica's elephants name was Kale...short for Longkale which means Crystal Ball. She was 8 years old and her Mahout was named Poohm ( i think ...spelling) Anita's elephant was named WaNally (sometimes it was Whoa Nelly!!) She was 10 years old and her mahout's name was Tim.
We spent the morning learning how to train them: get on , get off, pick something up , lie down, bow, etc., we then bathed them and then participated in the elephant show! it was wonderful. we did the same thing after lunch becoming more comfortable with the commands (in Thai). We rode them into the jungle to where they sleep at night - each elephant has there own spot where they stay chained to a tree so that they wont be aggressive (chain is 30 Metres long) we spent the evening at our homestay, having a few beers with the 6 irish people in our group. it was nice! lots of bugs too.. the next morning we were up at 6 am to take a walk into the jungle to collect the elephants for the day. we rode them back to the centre and took a morning bath! they LOVED it! they were all making noises (is that bleating? Blowing their trunks? i dunno) and spraying each other and us! bath time was the BEST!!
after breakfast we did some more training ( learning how to turn, feeding them etc.) then another bath and another show! we finished with a trip to the elephant hospital and to see the 3 month old baby there. very cool place. We were presented with a certificate made out of 100 % dung paper (there is a factory on site ) we had completed our Mahout training! What an experience! More thumbnails ...
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