Woodland Park Zoo--Seattle, Washington

In the elephant clearing, concrete and steel sleeves enable the zoo to secure upright snags so that the elephants can interact with them. The inset is a reference image taken in Thailand.
"From the very beginning this beautiful exhibit struggled with validity. Even posting pictures from scenes in Thailand, if you did not get it or comprehend it. The "authentic logging" camp was an effort at providing a show/entertainment without resorting to "circus types" of behaviors. That type of "show" was all the rage for a number of years. One of the reasons they stopped, I feel was that they could not be implemented with volunteer help, and the cost of maintaining/finding skilled people was very difficult."
Elephants have free access to a 227,124-liter pool fed by a waterfall. The riverine pool reaches a maximum depth of 3.35 meters, allowing the elephants to completely submerge. This image was taken prior to protected contact.
Design of the saddle shed was based on those found in elephant logging camps in the 1980s. The saddle pads and other tack displayed under the roof line are authentic. Photo inset is from Thailand.
From the logging camp nearby, visitors come to a village inspired by mid-19th century architecture found in Northern Thailand. A veranda in the village features interpretive programs and videos on the relationship between people and elephants in Northern Thailand.
Image taken in 1989, prior to protected contact. Stacking and hauling logs in an area established within the Thai Village can provide exercise and stimulation for elephants.