We’re back with photos of our trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

DATE OF TRIP: 18 – 21 April 2007

At the Maesa Elephant Camp:

At the Mae Taeng Elephant Park:

Environmental findings during the trip:

A. Paper from elephant dung

From an average of 200 – 250 kgs of food an elephant consumes per day, it produces some 50 kgs of dung. An elephant’s dung consists of mainly fibre. Since elephants are poor digesters of their food, more than 50% of what they consume comes straight out in their dung.

The steps involved in Elephant Dung Paper (EDP) making are:

1. Collecting the dung
2. The dung is washed and boiled for 5 hours
3. It is then spun to cut up the fibres
4. The fibres are sifted evenly into frames
5. The frames are placed under the sun to dry

B. Solar Panels used by the Palong hilltribe

The Palong hilltribe moved to Thailand from Myanmar only recently. They wear distinctive costumes with rattan hoops around their waists.