elephants previously spent their lives having to endure thousands of people clambering onto their backs for an elephant ride, performing in shows, begging on the streets or beaches, or pulling and pushing heavy timber in the logging industry. Opening in 2018, our original Bophut sanctuary is set on 15 rai of land and is home to 7 beautiful female elephants rescued from elephant riding and shows. It was founded as a partnership between Mr Montri Todtane, ex-owner of an elephant camp in Phuket; world-renowned elephant rescuer and conservationist Lek Chailert, founder of Save Elephant Foundation; and Louise Rogerson, founder of EARS Asia. Emphasis is on observing the elephants interact, play, and express their instincts in a habitat that would be natural to them and with limited human interaction. There is an entire herd of elephants living at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, many of which were rescued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ethical Wildlife Tourism: 10 Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand. These tasty treats are made from rice, bran, pumpkin and turmeric and are great for elephants of all ages. Samui Elephant Sanctuary One of the first ethical sanctuaries on Koh Samui, it provides a safe haven for elephants who have previously been overworked or mistreated in the logging and tourist trekking camps. 2,500THB and an overnight stay will cost approx. Morning & Afternoon Tours - Samui Elephant Sanctuary - Bophut, Morning & Afternoon Tours - Samui Elephant Sanctuary - Chaweng Noi. They are working to return formerly captive elephants back to a protected forest area in the wild. 16:3017:00 pm Enjoy dinner overlooking the Chaweng Noi Sanctuary If you have updates or personal experiences to share about the sanctuaries listed here, please do so in the comments. (Child prices are 1,100THB for a full day and 700THB for a half-day.) It is undoubtedly the most ethical sanctuary whose main focus is to ensure a natural habitat for the elephants where they can naturally forage, dust bath, roam, explore and socialize. These sanctuaries dont allow tourists to bathe, feed or ride elephants. The Samui Elephant Sanctuary is the perfect opportunity for families, couples, and friends to discover the life of elephants. The need for sanctuary breeding programmes has caused division within animal activism circles too. Required fields are marked *. Please check our FAQs if you have any further queries. Both afternoon and morning programs are offered to visitors, so you can choose a schedule thats most convenient for you. For example, if they buy an elephant, will the owner use the money to purchase another? In an effort to be more animal friendly, the tour provider didnt use a saddle; all riding was done bare back. Use tab to navigate through the menu items. Half Day Ethical Elephant Tour at Samui Elephant Sanctuary - Chaweng Noi. The Elephant Sanctuary is a retirement home for rescued elephants. Claiming to be the first ethical sanctuary for elephants in Thailand's Koh Samui, it has been focusing on the well-being of these animals since 2018. How to visit: Burm and Emilys Elephant Sanctuary runs a week-long visitor programme costing 17,00THB. A single-day visit costs approx. Hotel pick up - we pick up from all accommodation on Koh Samui. They have kindly offered to donate 100 baht from every adult booking to support our elephants - please ensure you mention Samui Elephant Sanctuary when booking! Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. At Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, these retired and rescued elephants can live in their natural habitat and are treated with the utmost respect. They offer morning and afternoon tour sessions with a professional guide. Here, guests have the chance to feed the elephants at the feeding platform and are also given a bag of bananas to hand to the elephants while taking a walk with them through the sanctuary grounds. WFF aims to rescue and rehabilitate a range of animals, offering them care and safety. Ask the Elite Concierge to make a reservation for an experience that just like an elephant you will never forget. We are pleased to announce that the one-week Elephant Volunteer Program is ready to once again welcome volunteers. There is no entrance fee to visit Friends of the Asian Elephant Hospital, however, donations are encouraged. There are many photography opportunities; guests are reminded not to forget their cameras! Phuket elephant sanctuary borders Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. In recent years, Sheree has also taken on the role of editor at South East Asia Backpacker. The camp is now a great place to see elephants in Thailand as they roam around the spacious grounds and play around in the River Kwai which runs right through the camp. Bringing ethics into elephant tourism, she established the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai to international acclaim in 1996. Elephants that approach tourists are allowed to be touched respectfully. The transformation was documented in the international film Love & Bananas; An Elephant Story. They are also a great way of tempting elephants to eat their medication if they are sick. Elephant Hills does not accept day trippers and the only way to experience its elephant sanctuary is by booking one of their tours. There have been many changes at EVP over the years and now, tourists are only allowed to feed elephants. At Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, where the elephants can roam freely over 30 acres, youll make friends with Richy, Tong Kwaw, Baan Yen, Jan Jao, Gaew Ta, Madee, Kannika and Dok Gaew. Given is a large food bag, upon meeting each elephant you have the opportunity to feed them. It would have been wonderful if you could just sit back and observe them rather than sitting on their back. These companies look for profit rather than taking care of these large mammals. Before we dive into the recommendations, well have a little look at why elephant tourism exists in Thailand and determine exactly what makes a sanctuary ethical so you can make responsible choices. Elephant Nature Park Elephants at Elephant Nature Park (Shutterstock) Elephant Nature Park is one of the best-known elephant conservation projects in Thailand. Like all of the other sanctuaries on this list, riding is strictly forbidden. +66 89 027 3827. info@samuiislandexplorer.com. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is nearby Bor Phud, Just 20 min from Samui international airport. The sanctuary was created in partnership with 137 Pillars Hotels . A sister project by Save the Elephant Foundation, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary focuses on the treatment and rehabilitation of old and injured elephants. 3,000THB per person. Samui Explorer. Samui Elephant Haven is the most significant ethical sanctuary on Koh Samui. All donations will help take care of the elephants and feed them. 9:009:10 am Safety talk and introduction to the elephants If you're looking for an even more immersive experience, Samui Elephant Haven also offers visitors the opportunity to help make nutritious rice balls for the elephants. Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Inspired by an elephant interaction and named after said elephant, Somboon Legacy Foundation aims to give elephants a comfortable and stress-free retirement. You can join their volunteer programs in taking care of the elephants. From beaches, water parks, and night markets, to nightlife, massage, scuba diving and day trips you can find everything here! For many years, these gentle giants have been subjected to abuse and overwork, sometimes with horrific injuries. The sanctuaries are seen as a place where elephants have all of their basic needs met (food, water, enough space to roam around, and interaction with other elephants) and are exempt from having to partake in activities that are solely for the pleasure and entertainment of tourists (performances, riding, tricks etc.). Spanning over 23 acres, this sanctuary sits on the north coast of Samui Island. If you would like more information, or to book a tour please contact Samui Explorer at info@samuiislandexplorer.com or book via the link below. Samui Elephant Sanctuary 5 1,154 reviews #1 of 38 things to do in Bophut Nature & Wildlife Areas Visit website Call Email Write a review About Samui Elephant Home got the new rescued, He is 2 years old now and very cute with naughtly. During the tour, guests will meet them all and discover their personal histories. By visiting our sanctuary, you are supporting a sustainable, ethical and compassionate approach to elephant tourism. There is a limited number of guests so you must book in advance. Some sanctuaries allow tourists to feed and bathe the elephants. Amazing Ethical Experience Review of Samui Elephant Sanctuary Reviewed October 10, 2022 via mobile Incredible experience!! Home The Herd Nong Pech Moloair Sri Nin Sudarat Plai Bang Aom and Perm Poon Sorn Ram Somboon Sri Nuan Kwan Samui Haven Luna Visit Tours Feeding The Giants Volunteers Schools About: Burm and Emilys Elephant Sanctuary, also known as BEES, is one of the most popular ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand. Samui Elephant Haven's mission is to rescue them, give them a place to live peacefully and allow tourists to interact with their rescued elephants safely. As such, the consensus is that one of the most ethical ways to encounter elephants is to visit an elephant sanctuary. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Elephants were used in wars, logging, and trekking to the point of them being abused, starved, and mistreated. Now it has 25 animals rescued from logging and trekking camps, mostly malnourished and injured. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. No riding or washing is allowed. What a perfect gift this would make! Around the sanctuary is a large pool area, for the elephants to cool down, and wash. Located near the border of Myanmar and Laos, Four Seasons Tented Camps is perched on the countryside hills of Chiang Rai, another city in northern Thailand. 2-day, 1-night Jungle Safari packages start at approx. The whole experience was simply wonderful, I felt very blessed to meet these beautiful creatures. They primarily operate as an elephant hospital, treating injured and poorly elephants. Check out their one-day volunteer program, a small-group opportunity (two to four adults) that includes transportation from the Outrigger Koh Samui Resort plus snacks and meals. Vegetarian buffet included. We put the well-being of our elephants first and therefore do not allow rides, shows, bathing, mud bathing, trunk hugging, elephant kisses, sitting on or lying on the elephants, loud noisy groups, or people constantly crowding around them. Elephants have been an important part of Thai culture dating back centuries, also being used in festivals, ceremonies and rituals. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy, Happy Lisbon #pride, yall! When you arrive at the Sanctuary, the guides will give you a basic overview of the tour, our elephant welfare programs, some information about the elephants and then traditional Karen clothes to wear during the tour. freely, communicating with each other, and providing comical turns; is an experience a visitor will never forget. What is the Samui Elephant Sanctuary address? My hair still, Satsuke and Mei explore a nearby forest to MEET To, How does a crab feel when it eats too much? Your email address will not be published. 12:0012:10 pm Leave from the sanctuary and transfer to your hotel, 14:0014:10 pm Safety talk and introduction to the elephants After the logging industry declined, many domestic elephants were left out in the wild by their mahouts (professional elephant keepers). I was fortunate to have been invited to visit Samui Elephant Sanctuary, to see what great work they do here. Book here: www.100degreeseast.com, Samui Elephant Sanctuary 2019 | All Rights Reserved. About: Perhaps the most notable of the elephant sanctuaries in Thailand is Elephant Nature Park, co-founded by Thai elephant rights champion Lek Chailert. Feed, walk with, and observe our gentle giants as they roam, socialise, bathe and enjoy a peaceful life that they so deserve. A huge part of their work is finding alternative income sources for mahouts, to ensure that local people dont get left behind in the mission to further animal welfare. Samui Elephant Sanctuary provides a caring home to rescued elephants where they can live a more natural life. They now use the words elephant conservation and elephant sanctuary in many of their marketing materials, misleading tourists. Your email address will not be published. Now thatSamui ElephantHaven is open and they can carefully accept small groupsbecausesocial distancing is becomingmore relaxed,MaewSuriya, the founder, wants to afford island residents and visitors the opportunity of helping make nutritious rice ballstofeed the gentle herd. 50K followers. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. You could tell by watching them roll their heads side to side and shuffling from one foot to the other that they were suffering from psychological trauma. How to visit: Get here via scooter from Chiang Mai. 43/2 Taweerat Pakdee Rd, Bophut, Koh Samui. Once an elephant camp which permitted riding, this all changed back in 2015 when renowned conservationist, Lek Chailert of Save Elephant Foundation, encouraged the camp to become saddle off! samuielephantsanctuary. Half Day Ethical Elephant Tour at Samui Elephant Sanctuary - Bophut. At a truly ethical sanctuary, the elephants autonomy will be respected, meaning the animal will be allowed to do what it wants inside the confines of the sanctuary. An Ethical Elephant Sanctuary In Koh Samui Koh Samui is one of the most tourist friendly islands in Thailand, due to its upgraded infrastructure and ease of access. The Elite Concierge team will be happy to arrange for private transfers and tickets to the sanctuary. Currently there are 6 elephants the youngest 49 years and oldest 62 years old and all female. Posts Videos Tagged. To everyone who has been following our family of elephants, we hope we have the opportunity to welcome you here at the sanctuary one day. (Children under four go free!) All of these extraordinary elephants more than deserve their peaceful retirement some are more than 70 years old! The family wanted rid of the elephant and told BEES to find the money to buy her or they would sell her to a trekking camp. Visiting the Haven can be an all-day experience if you want it to be! During the eight-hour adventure, you'll get a special t-shirt, make food for the elephants, feed them and even get a close-up look at hydrotherapy for the older tenants. Thank you for booking your visit to Samui Elephant Sanctuary - Chaweng Noi and for supporting our rescued herd. Elephant Sanctuary Samui - Ethical Animal Experience 5.0 (2) 3,000 2,900 Adults * Children (5-11 Years) * Accommodation Bookings for tomorrow only until 20:30 (GMT+7) The ethical elephant sanctuary in Bophut is one of Koh Samui's most popular attractions for travelers. People from Western countries wanted to ride the elephants, as well as touch them and bathe with them. Samui Elephant Sanctuary Bophut is our original sanctuary and opened in 2018. "As part of Novotel Samui Resorts Planet 21 commitment, we have partnered with Samui Elephant Sanctuary to raise awareness of ethical tourism where elephants are not ridden or mistreated which is often the case. TAT License No: 34/02051, Samui Elephant Haven offers morning or afternoon tours with professional, informative, and caring guides. Known for their hands-off approach, they offer a truly responsible experience and allow visitors to see elephants in their natural habitat without disturbance. They offer several options for visiting guests, from a 4-day mountain experience which involves staying with a member of the local Karen community and a 6-day volunteer programme. The 3 hour tour at the sanctuary was very informative, gave in insight to how these creatures have spend their lives since being born into this environment and it is apparent that all the staff at Samui Elephant Sanctuary, care and love the elephants. Many animal activists believe the only way to have a truly ethical experience is to observe the elephants in the sanctuary without touching or influencing them. There are two feeding sessions daily that visitors can get involved with. There is an entire facility for prosthetics dedicated to elephants on-site. Samui Elephant Home Caring and Education Center is where you will see the well-being that allelephants deserve, conserve the environment, and help local communities with sustainable tourism. BEES have both rented and bought elephants for the sanctuary, both of which come with potential issues. Here, guests have the chance to feed the elephants at the feeding platform and watch them roam and forage on the abundance of natural vegetation growing throughout the sanctuary. Elephant Sanctuaries in Cambodia 5 Popular Choices, The Environmental Cost of Palm Oil in Indonesia. These five elephants now live at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. If you want to connect with nature, what better way is there than being among the worlds largest mammals in their natural environment? The 'dark truth' behind elephant tourism includes separating baby elephants from their mothers to break their spirit. Guests to our Bophut sanctuary have the chance to feed the elephants at the feeding platform and are also provided with a bag of fruit to hand to the elephants while strolling around the sanctuary grounds. To be in the presence of elephants is breathtaking and we are sure that your day at Samui Elephant Sanctuary will leave you deeply moved. At Samui Elephant Sanctuary, we give our elephants back their lives, their freedom, and their dignity. Here are ten ethical elephant sanctuaries you can visit in Thailand, where youll meet many free-roaming elephants. Interaction has been respectfully limited with these elephants, but visitors can watch them foraging, bathing, and socializing from a distance. Watching an elephant show or riding an elephant through the jungles of Thailand was once an accepted practice. The sanctuary also supports local farmers by buying their produce to feed the elephants. Choosing an Ethical Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand, The History of Elephant Tourism in Thailand, Responsible Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand. Sadly, we lost some amazing sanctuaries including Elephant Valley in Chiang Rai and Tree Tops Elephant Reserve in Phuket. I was fortunate to see the oldest female elephant of 62 yrs, stroll into the pool, and clearly enjoy her time. Samui Elephant Sanctuary was the first Sanctuary to be opened. The Haven offers two daily sessions where kids and adults can attend a short cooking class, make their own rice balls and feed them to some of the elephants. With fewer sanctuaries to help Thailands elephants, it has never been so important to support those doing ethical work! Ethical animal tourism simply means observing animals in their natural habitat, i.e., from afar. How to visit: If you want to visit ENP, book in advance. How to visit: Morning and afternoon visits are available from 3,000THB per person. For many years, these gentle giants have been subjected to abuse and overwork, sometimes with horrific injuries. The central location of SES Bophut makes it easy to get to from popular places to stay on the island. All the sanctuaries on our shortlist prohibit riding and a few of them offer completely hands-off experiences, allowing elephants to just be elephants. The Haven has many elephants in their care including Somboon and her baby bull Haven, the two nannies. There is no touching, feeding or riding at this place, although visitors are permitted to take photos of the elephants. Knit a Giant Blanket. The mission of the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary and Samui Elephant Sanctuary is to meet the highest standards in animal welfare. Despite this, there are options for the responsible traveller. The elephants at Bophut are now accustomed to being around kind people, so visitors can safely enjoy some limited interaction with them, while still respecting their space. Samui Elephant Haven offers morning or afternoon tours with professional, informative, and caring guides. This elephant sanctuary does not allow tourists to touch the elephants. You can also take part in kayaking, trekking, and hiking through mangrove forests and visiting local markets. and is creating community farms for future sustainability with the help of the islands hotels. Taking Delight in the Details for 25 Years, Head to Canggu: Balis Hottest New Destination, Fourth times a charm: An enchanting destination wedding in Phuket. As we arent experts, we feel that this is the only way to be 100% sure that we are endorsing only ethical organisations. I'm Social Distancing) T Shirt, poaching for ivory and skin to be used in jewelry. or contact us via Messenger on the button below. The sanctuary has an abundance of trees and local wildlife so the herd can enjoy a more natural existence free to socialize with each other and wander the sanctuary without expectations. From dolphins, sharks, and whales, to tigers, turtles, and even elephants, Thailand is filled with magical biodiversity where tourists worldwide can have a safari-style experience. They have worked hard, their bodies are tired, and we want their life with us to be enjoyable and peaceful. Founded by Thai veterinarian Dr. Samart and his wife Khun Fon, the refuge began with rescuing three elephants. In ethical sanctuaries, companies put the needs of wild animals first rather than look for profit or human convenience. This has only been possible because of the interest and charity funding from tourists and local companies donating funds. Elephants are big, wild animals, Provide contact details of the point of contact from the home country, Plasters and a small first aid kit with antiseptic creams. How to visit: Half-day experiences begin at approx. Take Me to the List of Recommended Elephant Sanctuaries in Thailand! Elephant Hills sanctuary is home to many rescued elephants who spent life in captivity and are now free to roam without chains holding them back. They have a limit on visitor numbers to ensure that the elephants are not overwhelmed by tourists. She was born in Baan Lao to a small hill tribe community, located north of Chiang Mai. Duties also include cleaning elephant areas and collecting wood for the cooking fires where the elephants rice is steamed every day. The focus of our Chaweng Noi sanctuary is on respecting the elephants and appreciating their majesty from a distance in a caring, natural environment. The project works under the Save the Elephant Foundations off Saddle program. These cookies do not store any personal information. Your guide will tell you more about their rescued elephants, ranging from infants to seniors, and their stories. Both sanctuaries offer morning and afternoon programmes that start with video presentations to inform visitors about what to expect from their elephant encounters and explain a little about the elephants stories and why they so badly need protection. Our Chaweng Noi sanctuary opened in January 2020 and provides a loving home to 6 elephants on 40 rai of forested land - all rescued from a life of mistreatment. Or, please telephone or WhatsApp +66 (0) 956286160; email. For example, the mountain experience costs 320 per person, based on four people attending the tour. 16,520THB per adult. For those who wish to spend more time at the centre, volunteer placements are available from 410 per week. Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Although some of these elephant camps have closed, with one quick google search even on things to do in Phuket, it is clear that there are still many to choose from.
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