Of the 50,000 elephants once living in Thailand, there are only around 2,000 left today. Both free-living and domesticated elephants are threatened with extinction, which makes it so hard to believe that only sixty years ago, more than 50,000 roamed free. Wild elephants are hunted for their ivory and their habitats are cleared and converted into plantations, whilst other illegal trades also affect their numbers. Domesticated elephants are mainly used as tourist attractions, and the lack of adequate care and appropriate living conditions has caused them to become just as threatened as those in the wild.
Unfortunately, there is no law for the protection of these animals, which is why they urgently need the help and support of our volunteers!
The sanctuary for endangered elephants is in the southern part of central Thailand. The sanctuary is set across 7 acres of safe habitat, for them to roam freely and recover from the poor conditions they've lived in previously. The facility is actually the first chain-free elephant protection organisation in Asia! The elephants living here were rescued by the sanctuary after being captured or raised as livestock, mostly for use in the tourism or construction industry. Many of them are elderly, blind, or suffering from ill health. The oldest elephant onsite is 75 years old!
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