The Elephants
When people first discover my photography, it’s usually the elephants that capture their attention.
They’re magnificent animals and impossible to forget.
But what continues to inspire me isn’t simply the elephants themselves.
It’s the remarkable relationships they share with the people who care for them every day.
The rescued elephants of Chai Lai Orchid each have their own personality, history and story to tell. Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to spend thousands of hours with them and their mahouts, quietly observing the trust, humour and friendship that exists between them.
I’d like to introduce you to a few of the remarkable friends who have become such an important part of my own journey.
In Memory of Sevoy
Rescued. Respected. Never Forgotten.
The elephants you’ll meet at Chai Lai Orchid are rescued Asian elephants. Many spent years working in Thailand’s logging industry before finding a safe home here.
Today they live surrounded by people committed to giving them the care, respect and the dignity they deserve.
Every elephant has its own personality.
Every mahout has their own story.
Together they form partnerships built on trust, patience and years of shared experience.
Meet the Elephants
Mae Cheba, Moblay & Bamboo with Mr. Sompon and Mr. Kayu
The Mischievous Family You’ll Never Forget
Mae Cheba, her daughter Moblay and little Bamboo are the only elephant family at Chai Lai Orchid. Spending time with a mother and her two youngsters is a rare privilege, and watching them interact is one of the happiest experiences you’ll have here.
Bamboo is the youngest elephant at Chai Lai and the only young male, which makes him rather special. Their mahouts, Sompon and Kayu, know every one of their little personalities and quirks. Together they make a wonderful team, and it’s obvious how much affection and trust exists between them.
They’re also the unofficial meet-and-greet team.
I privately refer to photographing them as “Baptism by Fire.”
While you’re busy feeding one elephant, another trunk quietly appears behind you and helps itself to your basket of bananas. Before long the bananas have vanished, everyone’s laughing, and nobody is quite sure how it happened.
They may not be the best behaved…
…but they’re certainly among the funniest.
I spend time with this wonderful family almost every day, and no two visits are ever the same. I have a feeling they’ll steal your heart…
…even if they steal your bananas first.
Kam Si & Mr Umi
Gentle, Elegant and Endlessly Photogenic
Kam Si is around thirty-nine years old and one of my absolute favourite elephants. She has beautifully shaped ears, striking colouring and a wonderfully calm nature. Like most elephants, she has a soft spot for bananas and sugarcane, and she’ll happily accept either from new friends.
Her mahout, Mr Umi, is someone I’ve known since he was just sixteen years old. Today he’s a husband, a father and still devoted to the elephant who has shared so much of his life.
Watching them together quickly teaches you that their relationship isn’t built on commands.
It’s built on understanding.
The smallest glance.
A gentle touch.
The quiet confidence that comes from years spent side by side.
Every visit reminds me why I continue returning here. Every encounter feels different. Every photograph tells another small part of their story.
Mae Kham & Mr Bo
The Gentle Giant of the Group
Mae Kham is the largest elephant at Chai Lai Orchid. Powerful yet remarkably gentle, she carries herself with a quiet confidence that immediately commands your attention.
She spends most of her day doing exactly what elephants should be doing.
Eating.
An elephant of her size will happily consume around 350 kilograms of grasses, leaves, branches and seasonal vegetation every day. Don’t be surprised if, during a photography session, she casually reaches up and helps herself to a convenient branch.
Her mahout, Mr Bo, is a kind and thoughtful man from the local village. Like so many of the people here, he shares a genuine friendship with both the elephants and his fellow mahouts.
Whenever guests ask me what makes Chai Lai Orchid so special, I often think of elephants like Mae Kham and people like Mr Bo. Their relationship reflects the warmth, trust and respect that define this remarkable place.
Paja, Paje & Mr Chat
The Gentle Family You’ll Instantly Fall in Love With
Paja and her young calf, Paje, are one of the most endearing mother-and-baby pairs at Chai Lai Orchid.
Paja is around 22 years old, while little Paje is just two, still discovering the world one trunkful of curiosity at a time.
Their mahout, Mr Chat, is someone I’ve known for many years. He is one of the most trusted and respected mahouts in the area and is often accompanied by a younger trainee, quietly passing on his knowledge to the next generation.
Paja is wonderfully relaxed during our photo sessions, happily enjoying elephant grass or corn stalks while Paje explores everything around her. She loves bananas, is remarkably confident around people and is especially gentle with children.
They don’t demand attention in the way some of the more mischievous elephants do. Instead, they create the kind of quiet moments you’ll remember long after you leave.
Photographing Paja, Paje and Mr Chat is always a pleasure. The trust they share creates some of the most natural and heartfelt moments I have the privilege to photograph.
Ethical Elephant Tourism
Elephant tourism is often discussed as though every situation is the same.
The reality is far more complicated.
Thailand’s elephants have lived alongside people for centuries. Following the end of the logging industry and the continuing loss of natural habitat, many working elephants faced an uncertain future.
The elephants at Chai Lai Orchid have been rescued from difficult circumstances, with many having spent years working in the logging industry before finally finding a safe and caring home.
Over the years I’ve spent time learning from elephant owners, mahouts, conservationists and organisations committed to improving elephant welfare.
Rather than making quick judgements, I’ve always preferred to understand each situation carefully.
The experiences I offer are built around people and organisations whose values I trust and whose commitment to these remarkable animals I witness every time I visit.
I have written in greater depth about the complex realities of elephant tourism, the role of mahouts and the challenges facing captive elephants throughout Thailand.
Remembering Sevoy
The Gentle Spirit of Chai Lai Orchid
Sevoy was one of the original elephants at Chai Lai Orchid and remains deeply loved by everyone who knew her.
When Chai Lai Orchid moved to its present location, everyone hoped Sevoy would come too. Sadly, her owners at the time weren’t willing to let her leave. A few years later, Chai Lai Orchid was finally able to bring her home, where she spent the last years of her life exactly where she belonged.
I was fortunate enough to photograph Sevoy for many years and must have taken well over half a million photographs of her. She was the gentlest soul I have ever known.
If you notice the starfruit tree near reception, you’re looking at one of my favourite memories. Whenever the fruit was ripe, Sevoy would wander over, gently shake the tree with her trunk and patiently wait for the starfruit to fall. She loved starfruit more than any elephant I’ve ever known.
The little shrine stands as a quiet reminder of an extraordinary elephant who helped shape this remarkable place. Whenever I walk past it, I still think of Sevoy.
To me, she will always be the spirit of Chai Lai Orchid.
Come and Meet Them
When you join one of my photography experiences, I hope you’ll leave with far more than a collection of beautiful photographs.
I hope you’ll remember the elephants by name.
You’ll remember the mahouts who care for them.
You’ll understand why these remarkable partnerships deserve such respect.
And if, as you leave Chai Lai Orchid, you happen to notice the small shrine beside the reception, you’ll know that one very special elephant is still part of every visitor’s welcome.
Meet the remarkable place these elephants call home.
Discover The Place →
