- Who we are?

We are a team of veterinary professionals and locals working with the community to improve the welfare of captive elephants. 

We are non profit registered in both Australia and Thailand. 

- What we do?

At Mae Tala Elephant Village, Isara Elephant Foundation Thailand provides a sustainable, safe home for elephants to live a more natural life, and an alternative livelihood for families who want to transition away from using their elephants in the harsh tourist camps. We assist with community development & education, veterinary care for all animals in the community and contribute the forest health.

We are are retiring elephants to their natural habitat where they can forage freely eating their natural diet, exhibit natural elephant behaviours and are not expected to please tourists. This greatly improves the welfare of these elephants. They have autonomy and freedom of choice. They are monitored closely by their mahouts, to be sure they stay safe out in the forest & can receive any necessary veterinary care. 

Elephants play an important role in forest health, as they roam throughout the forest they open up areas, allowing light to enter and creating new growth, adding habitat variety and overall biodiversity to the forest. As they roam, they leave their nutrient rich dung behind full of seeds which is the perfect fertiliser. This seed dispersal creates new plant growth for other species. We are monitoring our impact on the forest, with the help of Chiang Mai University’s Forest Restoration Research Unit (FORRU-CMU), you can contribute without regular tree planting activities.

Volunteers coming to our project value elephant welfare, but also value the Karen culture, and are as engaged in the community as they are with the elephants. 

- Where we work? 

The project is located in a Karen hill tribe in Chiang Mai. Karen hill tribe communities are spotted throughout the mountains along the Thai/Myanmar border, where they settled as refugees after fleeing Burma due to ethnic and political conflict.They have owned elephants for thousands of years. The population in Thailand is around 1 million, and speak their own unique language. Their long history and integration in Thailand means they have now largely assimilated into Thai society. 

- Who are we looking for?

Whether you are after the experience of a life time, a student, a photographer, a teacher, a professional, taking a gap year, or seeking experience in wildlife conservation, animal welfare, veterinary, conservation, the environment, community development or just have a passion for elephants, we would love to have you! You DO need to be in good physical fitness, as the hikes into the forest to find the elephants can be tough, especially in the heat.