In the past, elephants were the largest animals in and the most important to Thailand. In human society, elephants perform various functions, such as a means to travel to religious ceremonies and as a symbol of status. In war elephants were used as horse and tanks are used in other cultures and in modern warfare. In peacetime some elephants were used to haul logs and were also a vehicle for traveling in the forest. It can be seen that in the past, the elephant had a strong relationship with human society. In more recent history through social, economic, national, religious, cultural.

Environmental has changed and advances, developments in modern materials, and more convenient modes of transportation, the role and status of elephants has diminished. In 1989, the government ordered the closure of forests in order to reduce the environmental problems caused by logging and burning of forests for agriculture. After the government ordered the forests to be closed without considering the impact on idled and dispossessed elephants and the elephant raising community, villagers lost a major source of income. As a result some villagers have brought elephants into the city to carry the food they sell to raise money to support their lives and families. Some elephants have been so unlucky as to have suffered the misfortune of dying in road accidents. Increasing the burdens and problems for the nomadic elephants a number of villagers have organized tourist attractions featuring elephant riding, elephant training, trained elephant entertainment performances, and serve the role of bulldozers. Removing the elephant from his natural environment.