SHOTLIST CHIANG MAI, THAILAND (JULY 21, 2025) (ANADOLU – ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF ELEPHANTS ROAMING FREELY IN SANCTUARY GROUNDS AND BEING FED 2. VARIOUS OF KAREN ELEPHANT KEEPERS INTERACTING GENTLY WITH ELEPHANTS IN FORESTED AREAS 3. VARIOUS OF ELEPHANTS BEING WASHED IN RIVER BY CARETAKERS 4. VARIOUS OF ELEPHANTS EATING, WALKING, AND PLAYFULLY INTERACTING WITH VILLAGE RESIDENTS 5. VARIOUS SHOTS OF ELEPHANT CALVES MAUI AND MOANA ALONGSIDE THEIR CARETAKERS CHIANG MAI, THAILAND - JULY 21: In the forested mountains near Chiang Mai, Thailand, a group of Karen elephant keepers is working to preserve a centuries-old way of life rooted in harmony with elephants. On Monday, July 21, the Elephant Freedom Village — a sanctuary founded by longtime elephant caretaker Non Chai — opened its grounds to visitors seeking a more ethical experience with the animals. Non Chai, who began working with elephants at age 15, established the camp as an alternative to exploitative tourism practices. At the village, elephants are not made to perform, paint or give rides. Instead, visitors observe them respectfully in their natural environment, experiencing the Karen people’s traditional, non-intrusive relationship with the animals. Earlier this year, two elephant calves — Maui and Moana — were born at the sanctuary and now roam freely alongside their mothers. The camp prohibits direct bathing activities, a popular but controversial attraction elsewhere, particularly after a Spanish tourist was killed in January 2025 during such an interaction. Thailand, where elephants hold deep religious and cultural significance, has seen growing human-elephant conflict, particularly in the south. Between 2014 and 2023, at least 189 people were killed and 171 injured by wild elephants. During the same period, 234 elephant deaths were recorded — many linked to habitat encroachment, land competition and the expansion of agro-industrial development. In contrast, the Elephant Freedom Village stands as a rare model of coexistence. “We don’t train elephants to entertain. We live with them, we understand them,” said Non Chai. As demand rises for responsible wildlife tourism, initiatives like this are becoming increasingly vital — offering both protection for endangered Asian elephants and a path to preserving indigenous knowledge.