Why do our elephants have chains at night?

Chains: This is a very common question amongst visitors. The ECC is set in a secondary forest bordering a lake. It is also bordering villagers’ fields, and the town of Sayaboury is not too distant.

Our elephants are kept chained with a 45m long chain at night to let them feed at will and to prevent:

• Them escaping our land and wandering in to farmers’ fields where they could be wounded by owners and where they could destroy crops and goods;
• Them being stolen;
• Them being killed for their ivory and/or body parts;
• Them wounding visitors at the Center or other elephants.

While most elephants at the ECC are of the more ‘docile’ female gender (males are significantly more aggressive), all elephants have the potential to cause sudden and serious damage to people and property. At night, when chaining is used, it allows for roaming, feeding and drinking in their natural habitat.

Their mahouts always make sure that there is plenty of food for them in the area where they are chained at night for their own safety, the safety of our neighbours, staff and, of course, our guests.

For the rest of the day, elephants at ECC are not chained.