Elephants and the Thai Royal Family
Elephants have played an important role in Thai history and culture since ancient times. The beginnings of Thai civilization go back to the 13th century, where Thai kings from the Sukhothai kingdom to Ayutthaya and Thonburi considered elephants a sacred animal. Until the current capital was Bangkok, for Thai people, elephants were majestic animals. Renowned for their intelligence and closely associated with the monarchy, white elephants in particular have a special status and are chosen to participate in various royal ceremonies due to their rarity and auspiciousness. Criteria for selecting a white elephant include white eyes, white tusks, white nails, white hair, white soles, white tail feathers, and white teeth(ivory).
Elephants in The Warfare
In Thai history, elephants have been an integral part of defending the nation’s sovereignty for a long time. Due to their size and immense strength, elephants were used in battles on the battlefield against enemies such as the Khmer and Burmese during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingdoms. Elephants could carry soldiers and run at speeds up to 25 kilometers per hour, making them a formidable force in the army. Particularly, their massive size, speed, strength, and ability to destroy any obstacles on the battlefield were highly esteemed. Moreover, the practice of Yuthahatthi, 
or combat with weapons on the back of elephants between monarchs, was a unique and prestigious tradition similar to the Western knights’ duels on horseback. These duels were often to the death. The elephants chosen for Yuthahatthi by the monarchs were typically large war elephants with broad skulls and long, sharp tusks capable of attacking the enemy. The royal war elephants were often impressively adorned and heavily armored for battle.
Elephants and Buddhism
Elephants also play an important role in the religion of Thailand, where Theravada Buddhism is the main national religion. Moreover, there are stories of elephants in Buddhist history and Jataka tales, which consider elephants as symbols of good fortune. The Buddhist legend states that Queen Maya, the mother of the Buddha, dreamt of a white elephant presenting her with a lotus flower before giving birth to Prince Siddhartha. This legend has made elephants sacred animals. Additionally, elephants are associated with Hinduism, revered in deities worshipped by many, such as Lord Ganesha, who is the deity with an elephant head symbolizing fortune and success, and the white elephant Erawan or Airavata, 
which is the three-headed mount of Lord Indra, believed to bring blessings.
Using elephants for labor and transportation
“Elephants for Labor and Transportation
Beyond being symbols of royalty and representatives of religion, elephants have been highly beneficial to the Thai people due to their large size and strength. Throughout many centuries, elephants have been used for various tasks in households, agriculture, and construction. For example:
- Agriculture: Elephants were used to plow fields for cultivation.
- Cargo Transport: They were employed to carry heavy loads.
Logging Industry: Elephants were essential for dragging logs in the timber industry. Additionally, elephants served as the primary mode of transportation and mobility in Thailand for several centuries. However, their usage declined with the advent of motor vehicles in the early 19th century.” 🐘🚜🌿
March 13th of every year is Thai Elephant Day.
