Elephant Conservation Center

Why choose Elephant Conservation Center ?

The Elephant Conservation Center in Laos stands out as the only facility in the country with a comprehensive breeding program and successfully rewilded elephants. Our mission encompasses the holistic care and rehabilitation of rescued elephants, ensuring their well-being through innovative veterinary and biological research supported by international partnerships. We pride ourselves on integrating education and community involvement, offering university programs and training local rangers to foster long-term conservation efforts. By focusing on the 7 R's—Rescue, Rehabilitate, Reproduce, Reherd, Rewild, Research, and Respect—we ensure a sustainable future for Laos' elephant population.

Website

www.elephantconservationcenter.com

Community Photos

Reviews

I spent time at this program 7 years ago, so my information may not reflect everything they are doing now.
I traveled around the world for 5 months visiting different elephant programs. I am a Chiropractor with a specialty in animals, so in many of these other programs I was working on the elephants.
This program was a more hands off, but be involved. They had some interesting observational opportunities.
I appreciated how much they tried to let the elephants be as natural as possible.
There was a small staff group then, but they were dedicated heart and soul. Very passionate about what they were doing.
I would love to get back to visit and see how much they have done in 7 years.

What would you improve about this program?

Hopefully they have incorporated some volunteer on going projects. I love something to do and help with so I was always asking if there was something else I could do. Even basic things like building and repairing fences.

Pros

Beautiful country
Lovely people
Elephants:)

Cons

none

I volunteered in the ECC last year for one week.
This place looks and feels like paradise. All the people you will meet here is very invested and passionated about animals and nature. During my stay, I have learnt a lot about elephants but also about Laos culture. I have spent time with amazing elephants and people. Also, the food was delicious
At the time I was there, the volunteering activities were not hard, mainly gardening tasks to bring some food for the elephants.
Thank you very much to the guides, Mr Lar, Mr Ken and Mr Sou !

What was your funniest moment?

Walking behind an elephant on a up-hill track, when he decided it was the good time to do number 2 ! Luckily we were far enough !

Mon premier séjour fut en 2019 comme bénévole. Découverte d'un lieu exceptionnel où les équipes donnent le meilleur afin que les éléphants se sentent bien ( après des traumatismes divers et varié )
Mes autres séjours furent en 2020, puis 2023 et 2024.
ECC est une grande famille où l'on a aussi le plaisir de rencontrer des personnes engagées pour la cause animale mais également très enrichissant sur le plan culturel.
J'ai un profond respect pour le fondateur du centre ainsi que pour toute l'équipe mobilisée.

In English:
My first stay was in 2019 as a volunteer. I discovered an exceptional place where the teams give their best so that the elephants feel good (after various and varied traumas)
My other stays were in 2020, then 2023 and 2024.
ECC is a big family where we also have the pleasure of meeting people committed to the animal cause but also very enriching on a cultural level.
I have deep respect for the founder of the center as well as for the entire team involved.

What was your funniest moment?

Le jour où après la baignade de l'après midi une éléphante avait décidé de prolonger son bain alors que les autres éléphants étaient sortis de l'eau. Son mahout s'évertuait à lui tendre des branches de bananier pour l'attirer en dehors de l'eau mais rien n'y faisait. Il avait fallu mettre le moteur du bateau en marche pour qu'elle daigne se tourner vers la rive et de réaliser qu'il était peut-être temps de sortir de l'eau.

Pros

Découverte de la culture locale avec les guides
La cuisine
La nature à l'écart des bruits

My two weeks at the ECC now almost 5 years ago remain a vivid memory and an exceptional moment. It was intense, rewarding, useful, and at the same time a very fun experience. The location and atmosphere around the camp was great, the staff both international and Lao very helpful and interesting to talk to, and most of all their approach to being close to the elephants whilst respecting their boundaries made it a genuinely heartfelt experience. I’ve enjoyed the long conversations with the head researcher there and hope to get involved more with the great work that they do. I keep thinking of going back and hope to do so soon.

What was your funniest moment?

Playing pétanque with the mahouts, visiting the lone bull in the jungle after a long trek, witnessing veterinarian care to a young wounded female, swimming at dawn in the lake with the other volunteers, there sending off party for the veterinarian intern… hard to pick just one moment!