(CNN) — Bangkok might be the most-visited city in the world, but it’s far from the only draw in Thailand.
Beyond the amazing food, glittering temples and famously friendly culture, the country has yet another precious commodity: its elephants.
And at Elephant Nature Park, an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center in the Chiang Mai countryside, you’ll be surrounded by them.
A dwindling population
Thailand has long been home to these beautiful beasts, but experts estimate the elephant population has dwindled to 3,000-4,000 (down from 100,000) over the past century.
The decline is mostly due to threats from tourism, logging, poaching and human encroachment on elephant habitats. While the majority of Thailand’s remaining elephants are living in the wild inside National Parks Reserves, roughly 10% continue to suffer in terrible conditions.
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/elephant-nature-park-chiang-mai/index.html