Thailand’s wild elephant population is declining due to habitat loss and poaching, but domesticated elephants are also in trouble. They are forced to work as begging tools and tourist attractions - giving rides to tourists or posing for photos. This rescue center provides a safe sanctuary for neglected elephants to live healthy and natural lives. The care and attention they receive ensure that they can spend the rest of their lives on a beautiful plot of land, no longer having to perform or carry out back-breaking work for the pleasure of tourists.
Volunteers provide care for all the elephants at the sanctuary. This includes cleaning enclosures, preparing food and feeding the elephants, walking the elephants to the pools and the river for bathing, scrubbing and washing the elephants, and moving fodder from the unloading area to the elephant paddock. Every afternoon, the volunteers make enrichment toys and tasks for the elephants, helping the animals use their brains and engage their curious minds while living in the sanctuary.
Once or twice a week, you will help harvest food for the elephants. Volunteers travel to local farms to help cut, lift, and gather banana trees, pineapple bushes, and palm fronds. This can be very hot and tiring work—but it is well worth seeing how much the elephants enjoy their meals.
Volunteers also help feed and care for the sanctuary dogs and help with upkeep around the Centre.
The morning starts early to avoid the heat of the day. Shifts are from 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with time off for breakfast, lunch, and water breaks. Volunteers have one day off per week.
Volunteers stay on-site in cabins, and you will share your cabin with 1 to 3 others. All cabins are the same gender unless there is a special request. There are western bathrooms and cool and refreshing showers for volunteers, and laundry services are available for a small fee. All meals are included. You can make breakfast (toast and tea), while Thai food is served in big lunches and dinners.
There is Wi-Fi throughout the center, and the on-site coordinators do their best to share pictures and information via the messaging app Line.
Do you have questions about safety? We have answers right here!
We’ve got you covered every step of the way! Your volunteering journey includes:
Airport pick-up and drop-off at Bangkok Airport
Comfortable accommodation
All meals
Wifi
Comprehensive pre-departure & on-site training
A donation to our Placement Partner
AEI Travel Manual brimming with key travel insights including packing list, currency information and in-depth placement description
Premium Individual Travel Insurance (up to USD 500,000 in emergency medical coverage)
24/7 emergency support throughout your placement
One tree planted for every volunteer to help offset carbon emissions and create more livable ecosystems for wildlife
Enrolment with the Global Travel Academy to earn a certificate in International Volunteering
The package does not cover flights, entry visa costs, international and domestic airport taxes, immunizations and medications.
This is an ongoing program with operations year-round. There are no specific start or end dates; however, volunteers are asked to arrive on a Sunday.
The Elephant Sanctuary is on the same grounds as the Wildlife Rescue Centre. Some volunteers choose to divide their time between both volunteer opportunities.
Are you thinking of fundraising for some or all of your fees? Many of our clients have been very successful with their fundraising efforts. Please visit our fundraising page to learn more about their successful fundraising projects and how you can fundraise for your experience!
Our partner in Thailand aims to educate people, particularly children, to end animal cruelty. 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 the conservation of Thailand’s natural resources.
One of the most essential things about wildlife conservation is educating local communities and tourists about protecting animals. It’s not just about stopping illegal activities; it’s about raising awareness and changing people’s behaviours.
Plus, you’ll get hands-on experience working with elephants! You’ll learn about elephant conservation, husbandry, nutritional needs, and social needs, and have the opportunity to work with these incredible animals.
Want to know more about the ethics of volunteering with these fantastic creatures? We’re happy to have contributed to a Travel and Leisure article about elephant tourism and are pleased to be certified Elephant Friendly by World Animal Protection.
You will never forget the first time you see an elephant up close! Although they are large, the elephants are very gentle and are used to people; they just don’t want to be chained or to give rides anymore. You will socialize with them, walk to different sanctuary areas, and even scrub them occasionally. If you love elephants, then this experience is for you! Spending this much time making enrichment tasks for them is a dream because you are playing a deeply important role in the rehabilitation and care of these magestic animals.
Not only will you be making new friends with volunteers from all over the world, but you’ll also get to relax with them. Here’s what you can do by yourself or with other volunteers:
Day trips are arranged for volunteers to visit national parks where you can see animals in the wild and enjoy the beautiful scenery and waterfalls. These tours are additional, but the fees are reasonable for volunteers. You will take home countless memories of this beautiful country and the people and elephants you will get to know so well!
B Corps are certified by the non-profit B Lab to meet rigorous social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency. We have been a B Corp since 2013, and since then, we have always been in the top 10% of quantifiable benefits to the environment and the communities in which we operate.
We acknowledge the traditional and contemporary custodians of the land on which Animal Experience International’s Barrie office is located. These people are the Ho-de-no-sau-nee-ga (Haudenosaunee), Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ, Mississauga, and Wendake-Nionwentsïo People and we recognize their continuing connection to the land, waters, and culture. We pay our respect to their Elders, past, present, and emerging.
TICO REGISTERED: ONTARIO REGISTRATION # 50022902
© Copyright 2024, All rights reserved
