The Ayutthaya Elephant Camp and the Royal Elephant Kraal

The Ayutthaya Elephant Camp was established in 1997 with the backing of the Department of Fine Arts and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. It collaborates with the Phra Kochabaan Foundation in an attempt to conserve the Thai elephant, to set up a standard system of elephant rearing, and to initiate an Elephant Reproduction Project or Elephant Weddings for the first time in the world. The project has been a success and has resulted in a number of baby elephants being born in the corral. The Ayutthaya Elephant Camp and the Royal Elephant Kraal feature young and old working elephants. Every day, 3 to 4 young elephants, aged 3 -10 years, will be at work.

As well as the Ayutthaya Elephant Camp, there is the Royal Elephant Kraal Tambon Suan Phrik to the northeast outside the City Isle. This was where wild elephants with good characteristics as detailed in the text of Elephant Characteristics were selected to take part in warfare, and it was the place where auspicious elephants were selected to glorify the monarch’s august power, in particular the rare white elephant. Seven white elephants were discovered in the reign of King Maha Chakraphat earning him the title “the White Elephant King”.