- Thailand
- Hua Hin
About Program
Elephants are in trouble in Thailand. Not only is the wild elephant population decreasing due to habitat loss and poaching, but domestic elephants are also in danger. Domestic elephants were used in the logging industry in Thailand, a practice that helped to destroy the very habitat the elephants relied upon. After this logging activity was banned, most of these elephants have ended up on the streets of big cities where they are forced to work as begging tools and tourist attractions or roam dangerously.
Life on the streets is very unhealthy for the elephants and quite dangerous – many elephants are involved in horrific traffic accidents each year. And the elephants have no laws to protect them from abuse or mistreatment. The mission of this elephant rescue centre is to stop the suffering of these creatures.
Our volunteers care for the physical but also mental well being of the elephants. Making sure they are fed, they get exercise, socialization and above all: love
Video and Photos
Program Highlights
- Hands on work at a real elephant sanctuary- rescued elephants are not ridden or made to perform.
- More than 10 elephants for you and the volunteers to walk, feed and wash everyday!
- 2 hours from Bangkok, 1 hour from a national park and forest, 45 minutes to the beach!
- Immersion volunteering. You live, eat and volunteer with your new elephant loving friends.
Program Impact
Our partner in Thailand aims to educate people, particularly children, to end cruelty to animals. Their focus is on stopping the illegal trade in wild animals for the pet industry, discouraging the use of animals for entertainment, preventing hunting and promoting conservation of Thailand’s natural resources. One of the most significant aspects of wildlife conservation is the education of local communities and raising awareness among tourists, who often inadvertently create a big demand for the exploitation of wildlife. Riding an elephant or having your photo taken with one may seem harmless to a tourist, but this exploitation has far reaching effects on the animals. Your work with the elephant sanctuary supports all of these efforts. By lending your help and spreading the message you become an important part of the campaign to end the suffering of elephants. You will learn about elephant conservation, the plight of “street elephants” in Thailand and the reasons behind the decline of the wild elephant population.
We get our volunteers to arrive to Bangkok International! We pick them up at 9am and take them to the centre so they arrive for a lunch time meet and greet!