Elephants: My Answer to a Low Mood 🐘

Elephants are the answer to low mood or an overactive mind. Looking into their eyes is like staring into a font of ancient wisdom. They seem to read inside you and look back with exactly the message you need. Or maybe it’s just the bucket of bananas and sugar cane I was holding in my other hand.

“Stop staring into my eye and feed me, bitch.” I’m guessing it’s more the latter — but I did feel quite invigorated after visiting Elephant Care Phuket, just a 10-minute drive from the hotel.

I’m normally pretty wary of visiting elephants. All those places that used to force them to perform in circuses or carry tourists around on their backs — it’s a big turn-off. I did some research beforehand and felt reasonably reassured (as much as Google can offer) that this place sits on the more ethical end of the spectrum.

You can spend a whole day here doing a variety of things, but I just opted for the feeding session. Just to be clear: feeding wild elephants sweet treats is not a good thing to do. But these ladies — and one lone five-year-old gent — aren’t wild.

Like rescue dogs at the pound, they’ve all been rescued (or rather, purchased) from circuses, riding camps, or the logging industry. Many still sway side to side in a dance-like rhythm — a habit from years of being beaten into submission to perform for crowds. It’s pretty heartbreaking.

At least here, on 70 acres of land, they get to roam the forest each night and come down for snacks, mud baths, and a scrub-a-dub-dub in the pond from willing tourists each day. They’re still working animals, no doubt — but to this layperson, it feels like a much safer and kinder environment.

After the feeding, I was handed a little fridge magnet to paint. Time for some art therapy to wrap up the session. Good for connecting with the moment, I guess — though I doubt my multicoloured elephant will be winning any awards.

A quick Google review scored me a lucky-dip prize — a stuffed elephant I’ll now be lugging around for the rest of my trip. And with that, my day in Phuket wraps up. Just a shower to wash the mud off my legs, a quick bag repack, and then off to the airport for an evening flight to Doha. Hopefully the day’s chaotic start — and calming end with some elephant-inspired art therapy — sets me up better for the rest of this trip.Read more