ELEPHANT CAMP

This camp is ran extremely well, the staff is extremely kind and accommodating, the food was fantastic however this is mainly a tourist attraction. The camp is advertised as a sanctuary where elephants run free and are given the best care and life possible given the circumstance that they can never be taken out of captivity. We signed up for this volunteer program under the impression of helping maintain and giving these elephants the best quality of life. There are multiple tour groups that come during the day, where they take the elephants on walks, feed them and bathe them. Some of the Mohouts (elephants trainers) are kind and caring towards the elephants and some are not. I do not agree with forcing animals to perform tricks simply for just the entertainment of humans. I question whether the elephants would get the same amount of exercise and care had we not been here or the countless vans full of tourists. On the count of them being chained up when the Mohouts are taking a break or busy working on the rice fields. On our final day we witnessed one of the Mohouts using a bull hook on an elephant continuously and the reason being unclear. I noticed the elephants ankles bleeding and asked what had happened and I was told they get hurt sometimes in the jungle…. This was a lie. Another concern was the behavior of one of the elephants that constantly rocks back and forth when she is chained up, this is a sign of distress. I was told that she’s young and has a lot of energy and “likes to dance”. Im sad to say I’m disappointed, I had higher hopes for this camp with low expectations and realize now that I should have set my expectations lower. Do your research throughly before you come and volunteer for modern day circus.