I would grab some fruit from my grandmothers kitchen to secretly feed these majestic giants.
I remember being awestruck when one scooped up a whole watermelon from my hands and crushed it effortlessly.
In the 16th century, the kings of Siam rode into battle on elephants.
An elephant at Kui Buri.Credit:Marisa Marchitelli
The beloved creatures were even featured onThailandsflag for the better part of the 1800s.
Elephants are protected by law, and the country has 69 reserves created especially for the now endangered species.
In 1991, following a series of poaching incidents, the combined sanctuaries became aUNESCO World Heritage Site.
The visitor center at Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary.Marisa Marchitelli
Anyone can drive into the area, but a guide is required to visit the three observation towers.
Almost immediately, we saw a herd of about 25 banteng.
They were peacefully grazing on grass and taking sips of water from a stream, unaware of our presence.
Biologist Mattana Srikrachang, in Kui Buri.Marisa Marchitelli
As Thainchang began to drive on, I asked if we could linger a little.
In the 1960s, Thailand was half forest; today its closer to a third.
Despite that, we kept our fingers crossed, voices hushed, and eyes peeled.
We encountered countless oriental pied hornbills, as well as egrets, herons, and storks.
The elephant remained unfazed, playfully splashing water on himself from a little reservoir.
He turned to us for a moment before proceeding back into the jungle.
By the end, we were smiling and totally drenched.
In the end I saw seven wild elephants across my two park visits, thriving in their natural habitat.
To see them in this state wild and free made me feel like a kid again.
