A recent article asked: Do elephants belong onPhuket? The question was asked rhetorically, but I sought a real answer, which turned out too lengthy for a single column; the balance will appear next month.

Elephants, or fossil remains of their immediate ancestors, can be found on every continent. The order Proboscidea has evolved during the last 55 million years. It contains one living family, Elephantidae, consisting of two genera: Loxodonta, the African elephants, consists of a single species, L. africana; which is further subdivided into two sub-species. Elaphas, is the other genus; its only living species is E. maximus in which the three sub-species of Asian elephants are found. The Indian elephant, E. maximus indicus is the one found in Thailand and, historically, throughout South East Asia, parts of India, the Southern Himalayas, and the Northern tip of Borneo. Other sub-species populated China, the rest of India and Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Sumatra. At one time 100,000 elephants roamed Thailand. Undoubtedly, there were elephants here, on Phuket Island.

The easiest way tell them apart is by their ears. African elephants have much larger ears than Asian elephants. Asian elephants have a big double bulge on the forehead and crown, that is lacking in African elephants. The African elephant has two finger-like structures at the end of its trunk which allows it to pick up an object without curling the trunk around it as an Asian elephant, with only a single "finger", must.

During the Seventeenth Century, King Phra Narai maintained a palace at Louvo, now Lopburi, then a small town a dayÌs ride North of Ayudhyah, where he spent time from November to April capturing wild elephants. He particularly liked capturing white elephants. He was probably assisted by Suai mahouts. The Suai had recently immigrated to Surin province from the forests of Cambodia and Laos. This tribe is noted for their close, personal bond with elephants. They capture, train and live with them. Elephants remain at the core of Suai culture and religion.

Elephants are also an important part of Buddhism. White elephants have the most significance. A white elephant was the last incarnation of Buddha before being reincarnated as man, the peace-bringer. A white elephant is an albino. There are seven places on its body from which this is determined, including eye and toenail color as well as skin. All white elephants belong to the King. They have great symbolic value, even today. White elephants must be cared for lavishly, thus the disconcerting gift of a white elephant (or its cultural equivalent). If a king wished to bankrupt some upstart, he would "give" him a white elephant. White elephants are not allowed to work; the recipient couldnÌt get rid of it, and had to care for it at his own great expense.

The Asian elephant is more of a grazer than the African elephant, considered to be a browser. However, the destruction of forest and the intrusion of man has continually reduced the ranges of all wild elephants to fractions of their original areas. Today, the Indian elephant has a scattered, dissected range. Its greatest concentration is in Myanmar, Thailand, the Himalayan foothills and along the border between Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos. There is still a small population in Malaysia and some, reportedly, in Borneo. There are roughly 4,000 elephants left in Thailand, only 4% of the population a century ago. Even with integration into human environments, the elephant population continues to fall at about 3% per year.

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PART TWO

Elephants were rare on Phuket when I first came here fourteen years ago. As logging has decreased, elephants have been brought here to earn their living bearing tourists instead of trees. Some critics have deplored this re-introduction, but other solutions, such as elephant-begging in Bangkok, or releasing them into the countryside appear to be far worse--in populated rural areas elephants get into trouble raiding gardens, and trampling folks. Male elephants in musth are temperamental and dangerous. (All large male mammals during the mating season are dangerousÛbears, elk and rednecks for example.) Myanmar has reportedly established new, wild elephant populations on some of the uninhabited islands in the Mergui Archipelago, where they should thrive without human intervention and provide a study population for scientific and medical evaluation. Thailand has a few nature areas where wild elephants can live, but only in very limited numbers.

Elephant Foot Prints

It is thus apparent that if we wish to save the 4,000 elephants remaining here as a part of the landscape and culture we must save the tamed as well as the wild elephant. Elephants are smart, and enjoy work and its rewards. Carrying tourists is a partnership that works for both man and elephant. Riding through the hills on one allows a tourist to get acquainted with them, experience an ancient mode of travel and to believe he is really "out there"Ûbeyond the confines of urban civilization.

Elephants have life-spans similar to ours. A small percentage die during childhood; some adults are killed by tetanus, tuberculosis, pneumonia and dysentery. They suffer from urban diseases and injuries in captivity.

Many people take excellent care of their elephants, but some are treated badly. Elephants should not be left standing in the sun much of the day, and should have their howdahs (saddles) removed. They need a varied diet of 75-150 kilograms and 80-160 liters of water each day. If you see an elephant being mistreated or neglected, call the Tourist Authority of Thailand. They will conduct an independent investigation without your further involvement.

Elephants need regular medical treatment and checkups. Owners may be financially hard pressed to provide adequate care. You can help.

You can adopt an elephant for a year. For only $200U.S. or 2500Baht, you can sponsor medical care for an elephant. You can visit "your" elephant and see its progress. This care is provided by the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand. They are located at 61/4 Soi Pibulwattana 5, Rama VI Road Phayathai, Bangkok 10400. Telephone: (02)271-4037, fax: (02)278-0924 Attn: Khun Pittiya.

Here, on Phuket, Robert Greifenberg founded Siam Safari Nature Tours, which has won awards for Eco-tourism. He is currently authorized by the Asian Elephant Foundation of Thailand to collect funds to put together a much-needed mobile health care project for elephants. He is the only one in this area doing so. The goal is to raise one million baht (less than $40,000 U.S.) This important project will provide help for sick or injured elephants and preventative advice and care in Bangkok, Phuket or any distant forest camp. Phone: (66-76)280-116, or 280-117, fax: 280-107 or write them at: 17/2 Soi Yodsane, Moo 10, Chalong, Phuket 83130 to make a donation or get more information. You can, if you wish, contribute to the medical care and maintenance of these great, intelligent animals who live among us.

U.S. (May-August): Phone (1-707) 443-1755/Fax (1-707)444-8574