This week we're back at Patara continuing our survey work. However, this week the director of Patara asked us if, in addition to our surveys, we could also help the mahouts communicate with the tourists and improve their language skills.

So this week, after we arrive at Patara, we all split up into 3 groups and go to different locations to wait for the tourists. We do our research work and then stay with them for the rest of the day to help the mahouts when it's needed. However, we have faced some challenges. Yesterday, 2/3 of the groups didn't have a person that spoke Thai, so communicating with the mahouts was a little tricky. Another challenge is the weather.

The rain has been nonstop for the past couple of days and it's harder to work in rainy, muddy conditions. Also, the elephants have gotten more antsy in the rain and have started to misbehave. Today an elephant ran away from their mahout, running down the road back towards the elephant clinic.

Research isn't always straightforward, circumstances change and a good researcher must be adaptable. This week we have learned first hand what it means to be flexible and positive researchers! We have really enjoyed our time at Patara on this trip and are so grateful for what we have learned from the mahouts, Pi Poad and Pi Peter, and Dr. M. 

Hey it's Sam!
It's week two at Patara and it's been great despite the rain. I love seeing the elephants every day and getting to know them better. The elephants have individual personalities and I'm getting better at identifying them based off of that. I got to see Pansa today and my mahout, Chai, which made me unbelievably happy. Also today, one of the mahouts asked me to inform the group instead of him about the four signs of a healthy elephants: ears/tail, sleeping on side, toes and poop and to go over the commands for the elephant. It felt good to demonstrate what I had learned last week to a new group of people. Friday is our last day at Patara and I'm going to be so sad.

Sarah here!
Normally on a rainy day you'd find me curled up under a pile of blankets, sipping on a cup of coffee, and reading or binge watching my new Netflix obsession. But today I donned my rain jacket and enjoyed the overcast at Patara.

After completing our morning surveys, we refreshed the Thai we learned yesterday, and then played with Tanwa. As a six month old male elephant, Tanwa does not have a mahout; meaning he has no training and understands very few commands. He also does not have a firm grasp on how big he is, which is approximately 400 pounds. Several of us have narrowly escaped our feet being trampled by Tanwa as he aimlessly runs about looking for another target to head butt. Oh, did I mention he likes to head butt people? He also likes to throw temper tantrums when he doesn't get his way. We're not too mad about it, obviously because Tanwa is so stinking cute! Here's a video of one of her tantrums today:

Sarah feeding trying to feed sugar cane to Tanwa

Tanwa taking a bath (more like splashing water everywhere)