Laithongrien Meepan

Laithongrien Meepan is a world renowned Elephant expert, a qualified zoologist and has a Masters Degree in Community Development. He is the Founder and Director of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace, Royal Elephant Kraal Village and the Phra Kochabaan Foundation. He has lived on site in the village with the elephants overseeing and directing everything since its inception in 1996. He is one of the world's foremost experts on Thai elephant history and culture. Meepan is the largest private elephant owner in the world, with over 200 elephants. He is the foremost world expert on domestic elephant breeding, having bred 69 calves successfully since 2000 through natural breeding. His expertise extends to training, unique nutrition development and meeting the special needs of elephants of all ages, character and temperaments including successful retraining of elephants that have killed people, to live in free contact with humans. Meepan personally researched and started a farm to grow special food for elephants. Specialising in training elephants for films, Meepan has worked with many prominent actors and directors including Jackie Chan and Jackie Chan. In addition he trains elephants for theatre productions that include re-enacting elephant fights during war time. He was the consultant on the Oliver Stone, Thailand's first animation feature about elephants and their role in Thai history. Meepan also advises and assists the government departments on elephant problems. This includes advice and solutions for street elephants, and wild elephants that have been injured and require relocating and rehabilitation. He also negotiates with other elephant people and with the government to improve laws to protect elephants and mahouts. Most importantly Meepan encourages the development of mahouts and staff to raise the status of elephants and their keepers to the noble position they once held in Thai society.