Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand

Elephant camps are generally located in tourist hot spots like Chiang Mai and Phuket. During these tours, tourists can visit and spend time with elephants in various ways. For many international visitors, riding on the back of an elephant is the ultimate travel experience. Most of these tourists, however, are not aware of the fact that elephants aren’t made for entertainment. To attract foreign tourists, the elephants are trained to carry people on their backs for jungle tours or to paint ‘funny’ pictures with their trunks.

The number of elephants in Thailand has decreased enormously due to the clearing of woodland and nature. As a consequence of deforestation, the Asian elephant has lost most of its natural habitat. Overall, it is assumed that there are between 2.500 and 3.000 wild elephants left in Asia. In comparison, in 1950, the elephant population was as high as 50.000! These numbers show that the Asian elephant is endangered. This is why elephants rely on the human help and protection which they receive in national parks, an elephant sanctuary or a Thai elephant conservation project.

Animal rights activists have been fighting for years to end the abuse of elephants. Elephant conservation volunteer work is always in demand to help protect these helpless creatures. For inexplicable reasons, Thailand still has no laws that prevent the mistreatment and abuse of elephants. Therefore, elephant volunteer programs and ethical nature parks in Thailand are of great importance to guarantee their protection. But what is special about these institutions and where are they in Thailand?

The elephants used in the tourism industry are poached from their natural habitat, e.g the jungle, and sold illegally to different entertainment institutions in travel hot spots like Chiang Mai or Phuket. To have them behave as well as possible, the schooling of the animals starts at a very young age. The training for female elephants starts when they reach the age of four. The education of the male calves starts even earlier. When they are only two years old.

The biggest threat to elephants besides the tourism industry is the controversial method used to train the elephants. The method is called ‘Phajaan’ and also known as ‘the crush’ of elephants. This traditional method has been practiced in Thailand for hundreds of years. The training is said to be torture for the animals. Not enough food and water, a lack of sleep and confinement to small narrow cages are used to break the young elephants’ spirit.

The animals are physically harmed by constant strokes or stabbing with the so-called ‘ankus’ - the bullhook. This training method is so cruel that half of the calves going through the process do not survive it.

As part of Thailand’s tradition, the Mahouts (elephant trainer) start their profession at a very young age and are bound to their elephants for life. Over the past decades, being a Mahout has lost its respect and traditional meaning. To survive, many Mahouts use their elephants as a tourist attraction.

A great way to support elephants in Thailand is to volunteer at an elephant sanctuary. In general, animal sanctuaries are special facilities where endangered and rescued animals find protection. In comparison to other institutions such as animal shelters, a sanctuary pursues a specific, ethical philosophy. This fundamental philosophy is based on the idea that the well-being of resident animals comes first and that every animal is equally important. The sanctuary will either be the final home for the animals or make sure that the animals can be released back into the wild.

The mission of each elephant sanctuary in Thailand is to offer a great environment and the best care that can be provided to the animals. The elephants that find a second home in a sanctuary, have often been treated horribly for most of their lifetime. As a tourist attraction or for other economic purposes, the elephants have been through years of tourist trekking or illegal logging. Besides physical wounds, the elephants often have behavioral issues.

Elephant sanctuaries require a lot of work and depend on the help of international volunteers. Volunteers at an elephant sanctuary will have a variety of tasks. These tasks can include the direct contact with the elephants, such as feeding, bathing and overall care of the elephants. This also includes important work in the field of research and education. Research is of great importance to ensure the future existence of the elephants.

Most volunteer programs require a fee to be paid by the volunteer. This covers accommodation and in some cases also supports organization's activities. You can use the filter option on our platform to search for volunteer programs that fit your budget. Our live chat team is happy to assist you with this.

A Unique Experience

Elephant volunteering in Thailand at an elephant sanctuary or rescue center is a wonderful experience. On the one hand, you will experience something new and adventurous while you work on protecting these amazing animals.

Broaden Your Horizons

Furthermore, you will learn about the Asian Elephant and the ethical project focus of an elephant sanctuary in Thailand. Become an elephant volunteer in Thailand and you will grow as a person as you’re confronted with new situations on a daily basis.

Connect With Other People

Together with Thai locals and other volunteers from all over the world, you will play an active part in improving elephant lives.

It's Healthy!

Volunteering gives people a sense of purpose and allows you to help. This has proven to have a very positive impact on all those who contribute to a cause or volunteer. Traveling is also very beneficial because it requires you to use different parts of your brain You'll only gain from volunteering abroad!

Great on Your Resume

Future employers love that you have some work experience and that you are committed to something greater. This is a great addition to your resume especially when you're starting out on the job market!