Many of the locals here at Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village are of the Suay ethnic minority. They are skilled in capturing, training and raising Asian elephants, a national Thai symbol. Unlike in northern Thailand where elephants are kept for labor, locals consider elephants their companions, and often share their homes with them. Visitors to the village can observe the way of life of the Suay people, or speak with veteran elephant specialists. Often, the sluggish local economy drives elephants and their mahouts to work outside the village. Rice paddies and forests, good elephant habitats, surround the village.The best time to visit Ban Ta Klang is November and December.