Part of my time on Phuket was spent at the Green Elephant Sanctuary. This is an ethical retirement home for elephants. They aren’t chained up, and you don’t ride them.
We started by feeding them. They eat all day long! They will eat a banana with the skin on – unless you accidentally drop the banana on the ground, and then they will peel it with their trunk and discard the peel.
This little one is one-month old.
And then we got into a muddy water pit and rub mud on the elephants. They apparently love this. 
Next comes the first cleaning. 
And then the final scrub. 
Mom and baby bathed on their own. We were allowed to watch from a distance. 
Baby ran back to the pond. The handler very gently escorted him back to mom. I never saw the elephants being mistreated.
They were so lovely and gentle.
I highly recommend this experience. But please, please do not ride the elephants!
jewelsworldtravels 