Dok Mak - Elephantstay Memory Page

23/10/2023

Dok Mak might not be here but Elephantstay still is remembering the good times and impact we have made on peoples lives and making new memories

06/01/2021

FROM NOTIFICATIONS
Elephantstay is at Elephantstay, Royal Elephant Kraal Village.
Published by Ewa Narkiewicz · 6 hrs · Ayutthaya ·
Fifteen years ago today, we arrived at Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok, with our bags and dog Buddy, to begin our new life at the Royal Elephant Kraal. We first came to Thailand and the Royal Elephant Kraal in 2001 and from that moment we were hooked. The people and of course the elephants were so welcoming we immediately felt at home. Besides our holidays here, we had 6 months working with the elephants before we moved to the Kraal permanently. However. nothing really prepares you to live in a different culture with a strange language when you are trying to set up a new elephant program. There was no manual or even places that were doing what we wanted to do; to give people a real hands on experience in a unique setting and culture of elephants. It’s the most massive learning curve that never ends. It has been fifteen years of happiness, joy, heartbreak and challenges. Natural disasters like monsoons, flooding and pandemics, where not something we expected but we have come through it with a commitment and dedication that even surprised ourselves. We were fortunate we worked for the Foundation under Pi Om and his family who have always had our back. We have met the most amazing people over the years, and made incredible friends from all over the world and walks of life. And of course. elephants there has always been the elephants to remind us of what is important and valuable in the world, to ground us in a reality that is unique and inspiring. Sometimes it still feels surreal to be here, but it definitely is our home. Now we look forward to the next 15 years and everything that brings. We hope you can join us and be part of our Elephantstay life. I have literally thousands of photos so here is a few from over the years.

15/06/2018

2007! Gone but never forgotten. Alison Plain on DokMak and Jenny Jeanette Dickens on Loong Sap. Although these beautiful old elephants have left us, Alison and Jenny have continued to support Elephantstay visiting regularly and caring and bonding with our other girls.

03/01/2017

Lets all work together to make a great future for elephants in 2017!

24/12/2016

Wishing all our Elephantstayers and supporters an elephantastic and safe Xmas and holiday and lets hope 2017 is a great year for elephants with many happy new arrivals. May all elephant people unite to give a sustainable and bright future for Elephants. 🎄🎄🐘🐘🎅🎅

01/12/2016

On the 8th November eleven elephants and over 200 mahouts and elephant people from all over Thailand went to Sanam Luang Grand Palace to pay homage to the late King of Thailand. It was an honour to be able to present to the people of Thailand a demonstration of culture that is part of the Royal history of Thailand.

ขบวนช้างมงคลงางาม 11 เชือก ประดับด้วยคชาภรณ์แบบช้างศึก ในพิธีถวายสักการะพระบรมศพ เวลา 09.09 น.วันนี้ (8พ.ย.59) บริเวณท้องสนามหลวง พระบรมมหาราชวัง พร้อมด้วยควาญช้างกว่า 200 ชีวิต เริ่มเดินจากศูนย์บัญชาการรักษาดินแดน ผ่านหน้ากระทรวงกลาโหม ยกเท้าด้วยท่วงท่าสง่างาม พร้อมประโคมมโหรี มีการแปรขบวนและหมอบกราบ พร้อมร้องเพลงสรรเสริญพระบารมี บริเวณประตูมณีนพรัตน์ มีการทาผิวช้างด้วยดินสอพอง ซึ่งไม่ทำให้ระคายเคือง (จากวังช้างอยุธยาแลเพนียด)

สง่างาม! เริ่มขบวนช้างมงคลงางาม 11 เชือก พิธีถวายสักการะพระบรมศพ
► https://goo.gl/CqW9O6

ซ้อมใหญ่เดินแถว ขบวนช้างมงคล
► https://goo.gl/PQFKLt

ขบวนช้างเสร็จพิธีสักการะพระบรมศพ หน้ากำแพงพระบรมมหาราชวัง
► ชมผ่านยูทูบ https://goo.gl/yLzPGV

ขบวนช้างถวายสักการะพระบรมรูป รัชกาลที่ 6 ณ หน่วยบัญชาการรักษาดินแดน
► https://goo.gl/lWXzLM

• อ่านข่าวเพิ่มเติม www.tnamcot.com | สำนักข่าวไทย
• รับชมช่อง 9 MCOT HD กดเลข 30 และโมเดิร์นไนน์ทีวี

01/11/2016

October 13th, history in the making. Dozens of people from Department of National Parks, Livestock Department and Local government came to the Royal Elephant Kraal to start a DNA project. Every elephant in Thailand will be checked. They began the project here as we are leaders in the elephant community and because we have always co-operated well with the government. They needed us to help sort out all the issues co-ordinating between the departments to test the elephants to make this a success.

19/07/2016

Michelle Reedy and DokMak 2008

07/12/2015

Elephantstay and the Phra Kochabaan Foundation would like to thank Paul Anthony Gatien for leaving us part of his estate to continue our work and care of our elephants. Because of his generosity we are able to proceed with projects that will enhance and improve the lives of our elephants.
As many of you know we have been devastated by floods during the rainy seasons over the years. This in turn has caused many problems for the elephant's sleeping areas. Every time we get rain the night areas become boggy and too wet for the elephants to sleep. So we must move them outside to sleep elsewhere.
We have started to bring in soil to raise the land higher and heavy machinery has been forming the land to create raised sleeping areas so when it rains the water will run off and not sit where the elephants sleep. Each sleeping area will also have a mound of soil to act like a pillow or rest which will help our older elephants get up in the morning. We will use the heavy machines to drive down concrete posts tethering the elephants in a more effective and secure way. We are improving the drainage system so the water drains away and does not sit there making the ground more boggy.
We are changing our watering system to effectively increase the volume and speed of water. This will bring water more efficiently for drinking and bathing. The three areas that we are targeting is the elephant nursery, the communal shower and the Elephantstay elephants. To do this we have to increase the size of our pipes, faucets, hoses and purchasing a more powerful pump.
Scratchng or rubbing posts is something we have been planning to happen for some time now. Because of the years of flooding we have lost all our large trees which the elephants loved to rub and scratch on, which was good for their skin. We will erect two sets of scratching posts in two locations. Each set will consist of three types of posts protruding from the ground at different angles so the elephants can rub all of their body easily.
One of our bull elephants, Yod Yeam, has a disability. His leg was broken when during the night another bull got his chain and attacked him. Because of this, his leg is stiff and he has trouble walking. We are making him a structure to reside in during the day which has a roof for shade and sand floor. There will also be horizontal supports for him to lean on and alleviate the pressure of his good legs. This structure will make him more comfortable and improve his quality of life.
These projects are very costly and the legacy of 50,000 AUD from Paul Anthony Gatien has meant we can achieve these goals.
We would also like to thank Alex Maroulis, executor and trustee of Paul's estate for ensuring his legacy has been realized.
Improving the lives of our elephants is an ongoing work in progress and we greatly appreciate the generous contribution Paul has made.
You may want to consider making a legacy in your will to Elephantstay. We will ensure it makes a considerable difference to our elephants.

19/08/2015

Elephantstay Channel programming new and old videos from your beloved elephant and all other elephants at Elephantstay.

Go to https://www.youtube.com/royalelephantkraal and subscribe today.

(www.elephantstay.com)

08/05/2013

Michelle and Dok Mak. Dok Mak was Michelle's first elephant she took care of and the inspiration and reason we made Elephantstay.

27/07/2010

We miss you Dok Mak

22/07/2010

- RIP Dok Mak - 8 May 2010

18/07/2010

13/07/2010

Elephantstay (www.elephantstay.com)

13/07/2010

Elephantstay (www.elephantstay.com)

03/07/2010

Just one hour from Bangkok, in Ayutthaya is Elephantstay, a place where you can live, work and play with elephants. Ewa Narkiewicz and Michelle Reedy manage this not-for-profit project which retires old elephants and gives young ones a sustainable future. The elephants at Elephantstay work in movies too taking acting roles in Oliver Stone's "Alexander" and Jackie Chan's "Around the World in 80 Days".

Hosted by Sunida Thirasak a Bangkok native presently living in New York.

Filmmaker: The Compulsive Traveler www.compulsivetraveler.tv

PLEASE NOTE: 1 DAY PACKAGE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

21/06/2010

Check out all my grandkids!
In the words of Laithongrien Meepan "Happy, healthy elephants breed" and with 37 succesful births since 2000, he's right!

elephant birth links 2006 to 2010, elephant nursery thailand elephant births, elephant breeding, successful captive elephant breeding, leader in elephant breeding

21/06/2010

Elephantstay's first newsletter!

21/06/2010

Elephantstay, Royal Elephant Kraal and village - Ayutthaya, Thailand

Dok Mak (Elephantstay retiree) Elephantstay, Royal Elephant Kraal, Ayutthaya is dedicated to the conservation of Thailands elephants by creating a sustainable future for all elephants. Hands on experience, caring for retired elephants. Best breeding program in the world.