Elephant Rehab in Thailand
Sometimes you meet people in the world that have such focus and sensitivity that it changes your life. They are able to motivate others to follow their hearts, and lead an ambitious life that has nothing to do with money or material things. "Lek" Chailert of Thailand is such a person, whom I was fortunate to meet on my second trip to Thailand. Of course, you can't meet Lek without meeting her pets, giant "puppies" who like to play and hug and take baths and generally wrap themselves around your soul.
There are conservation problems throughout the world, but in Southeast Asia, there is an opportunity to develop a 'conservation morality', if you will. Lek is trying desperately to show that elephants can be saved and respected and loved without the barbaric practices used to train them for tourist shows or logging operations. It is a huge uphill battle in a place where empty stomachs and tourist dollars override any suggestion of animal souls or rights. Yet she is showing that regardless of culture, people have basic instincts that know what is right and what is unacceptable. Hopefully, her work will gradually touch the right people in the right places, and mandate humane treatment to these beautiful beings.
