Located in Ban Thung Kwian, in the Wiang Tan sub-district, the Thai Elephant Conservation Center is managed by the Northern Forest Industry Organization (NFIO). Originally, NFIO served as the first and only training center for baby elephants in the world, beginning operations in 1969. This center was dedicated to raising and training baby elephants to follow commands and assist with logging while their mothers worked in the forest. However, with the implementation of a logging ban that left elephants unemployed, the center was transformed into a facility for caring for elderly and sick elephants. It also houses an elephant hospital. In 1992, the NFIO established the Thai Elephant Conservation Center and introduced eco-tourism activities, including elephant shows held three times a day at 10:00 AM, 11:00 AM, and 1:30 PM, with bathing sessions for the elephants before the shows at 9:45 AM on weekdays, and at 1:15 PM on weekends and public holidays. The entrance fees are 100 baht for adults and 50 baht for children for Thai visitors, and 170 baht for adults and 110 baht for children for foreign visitors. Elephant rides, known as "elephant taxi" experiences, are available daily from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, and tourists can choose from various routes. For more details, you can call 0 5482 9329 or 0 5482 9333. The Thai Elephant Conservation Center has received the Tourism Awards for being an outstanding natural tourist attraction in 1998. Currently, the center runs a mahout training school aimed at equipping individuals who wish to become mahouts with the proper skills to care for elephants. Numerous foreigners have shown interest in enrolling as students. Additionally, the center offers homestay activities where tourists can experience the natural surroundings and learn about the close relationship between elephants and their caretakers. Packages are available, such as three days and two nights for 8,000 baht, or two days and one night for 5,500 baht, including meals (with the option to cook). There are three homestay houses on-site, and anyone wishing to donate to help Thai elephants can contact the National Elephant Institute at 0 5424 7876 or visit www.thailandelephant.org. Beyond tourism, another interesting aspect is the renewable energy used within the center, part of a royal initiative project. Biogas generated from elephant dung is utilized for cooking, and electricity is supplied by solar panels. Thung Kwian Forest Park is a recreational retreat for the people of Lampang, featuring a cold-weather pine forest and a diverse range of flora, including vibrant flowering plants, cacti, palms, and various medicinal herbs. Camping is permitted here, with November being the prime time for an overnight stay as it coincides with the blooming of the "Bua Tong" flowers. Due to Lampang's basin geography, it generally experiences warmer weather than Mae Hong Son, resulting in the Bua Tong flowers blooming approximately 15 days earlier in Lampang than on Doi Mae Ukor. Mountain biking events are organized in October, known as Thung Kwian Mountain Bike. For further inquiries, you can call 08 1885 3697. The park also features an open zoo, allowing visitors to get up close with various animals such as deer, sambar deer, and peacocks. Additionally, the park has unique plant species available for purchase by tourists. Getting there: The center is located 24 kilometers from downtown Lampang, along Highway 11 towards Lamphun, near kilometers 28-29. To reach the center via public transportation, take a bus headed to Chiang Mai from Lampang Bus Station and disembark at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center.