Chiang Mai - Elephants #1 - Baby Elephants

Before our day with the elephants started, we stopped to see some newborns.  The youngest was 16 days old and was quite playful.  He kept trying to push Chip over and picking up a broom with his trunk.  He was still nursing.

During our day caring for elephants, we learned that over the past 40 years (elephants average 85 year life) the elephant population in Thailand has reduced by almost half (currently around 2500).  The place we visited rehabilitates and breeds elephants.  They have produced 10 elephants over the past year.  The gestation period for an elephant is 18-24 months.  If they give birth between 18 and 21 months it is a girl.   22-24 months produces a boy.

John with the 16 day old.

Charles was feeding all of them bamboo stalks.

 

The Baby loved biting on the bench

 

He loved horsing around and chewing on Chips leg.

 



The baby we were hanging out with was solely nursing.  Some of the 2-3 month old babies were just starting to eat.  There first real food is eating their mothers poop.  Yummy!