The Compass: Thailand ~ Historian Fact

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The Compass: Thailand

June 06, 2020 No comments

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Thailand

The Compass is a source of inspiration and a reminder of the beautiful global community we share. Right now, it might be hard to see the beauty amongst the unsettling-heartbreaking issues that we are facing. We continue to publish The Compass, to give release, if only for a moment, to remind ourselves that there is beauty in this world. Even if it’s hard to see right now.

Thailand dazzles with tropical beauty and vibrant culture, from the white sands of its southern coastlines to the timeless temples within its northern jungles. This week, we journey to the “land of a thousand smiles” to see how one Thai elephant was rescued to start a new life of freedom, discover a new 'shark toothed' dinosaur with fossils dating back more than 113 million years, and learn about one man’s fight to save traditional Muay Thai boxing.
Let’s explore Thailand.

ANIMALS & ENVIRONMENT

Gluay Hom stands in the transport truck during the 14-hour journey. The truck was outfitted with wooden beams, foam padding, and plenty of elephant food.

PHOTOGRAPH BY SAVE ELEPHANT FOUNDATION

The world responded to this captive elephant’s plight. Now he has a new life.

National Geographic documented Gluay Hom’s injuries in a story on the dark side of wildlife tourism. Now the elephant has been moved to a sanctuary.

Watch this mesmerizing feather star swim through the ocean. A type of crinoid, feather stars evolved to swim to evade predators.

FOOTAGE BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

Mesmerizing video shows swimming feather star

The marine invertebrate, which is known as a living fossil, was filmed in Thailand. A type of crinoid, feather stars evolved to swim to evade predators.

A mahout directs a young elephant to practice a handstand. Once a mahout can prove that an elephant has mastered three tricks and is actively performing in local shows, the Thai government pays a monthly stipend to subsidize the animal’s care.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KIRSTEN LUCE

In this Thai village, life revolves around 300 captive elephants

In Ban Ta Klang, people live alongside the elephants they raise and train for tourism.

Many fishers have long relied on the incredible bounty in the Mekong River system—including at the floating village of Chnok Tru on Tonle Sap lake—and new efforts are trying to make sure the catch is sustained for the future.

PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID GUTTENFELDER, AP/NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

River sanctuaries help giant fish recover in Southeast Asia

A network of reserves is helping giant catfish and other Mekong River species survive intense fishing pressure and other environmental threats.

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WILDLIFE WATCH

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For $10, tourists can pose with this tiger at Phuket Zoo, in Thailand. Examples of souvenir photos are displayed here on a poster board. The tiger is held by a short chain and can’t stand up. Tigers may be declawed, or even drugged, to protect people around them.

PHOTOGRAPH BY KIRSTEN LUCE

Suffering unseen: The dark truth behind wildlife tourism

Captive wild animal encounters are hugely popular, thanks partly to social media. But our investigation shows many creatures lead dismal lives.

In a forest in southern Thailand, a male helmeted hornbill approaches a tree where his mate and chick have been sequestered for months, relying on him to bring food.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM LAMAN

Poached for its horn, this rare bird struggles to survive

The mysterious helmeted hornbill fades from Southeast Asia’s forests as poachers and traffickers target it for the illegal wildlife trade.

SCIENCE & ADVENTURE

Excavations in Thailand revealed Siamraptor suwati, a newfound type of predatory dinosaur. The creature belonged to the carcharodontosaurs, a group known for its serrated, knife-like teeth.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CHOKCHALOEMWONG ET AL., 2019

Huge new 'shark toothed' dinosaur found

Dating back more than 113 million years, the fossils belong to "one of the most important Thai dinosaurs ever found," paleontologists say.

British cave diver John Volanthen emerges from Tham Luang. Volanthan along with Richard Stanton, both elite cave divers from England, found the boys alive a mile and half deep inside the cave.

PHOTOGRAPH BY LINH PHAM, GETTY IMAGES

The untold story of the daring cave divers who saved the Thai soccer team

Racing against rising waters, an elite group assembled from across the globe pulled off a harrowing rescue of 12 boys and their coach a mile and a half underground.

CULTURE | SHORT FILM SHOWCASE

One man’s fight to save traditional Muay Thai boxing

WATCH THE STORY

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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