The world-famous conservationist star of a new documentary making its New Zealand premiere humbly insists that anyone can be an “elephant whisperer”.
From a remote hill tribe in northern Thailand, Saengduean “Lek” Chailert has become something of an international celebrity for her efforts to save the Asian elephant from inhumane human practices. The Ford Foundation called her a “Hero of the Planet” in 2001. Time Magazine labelled her a “Hero of Asia” in 2005. Then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton included her as one of six “Woman Heroes of Conservation” in 2010.
Her sanctuary, Elephant Nature Park, in the lush Mae Taeng valley north of Chiang Mai, is home to more than 120 elephants rescued from abusive and traumatising situations, and her international non-profit Save Elephant Foundation (SEF) has rehabilitated many more.
And yet, chatting to Stuff ahead of…
