is elephant jungle sanctuary ethicalis elephant jungle sanctuary ethical

You will be feeding, bathing and even playing with the elephants. Interact with rescued elephants on this tour to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. We were even told how one elephant was left out one night and she walked down the road and ate a whole crop of the neighbors bananas! I would not have given Elephant Jungle Sanctuary a single Thai Baht if I knew this was what I was paying for. Ethical Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Tour from Chiang Mai Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket, the first ever operational elephant Sanctuary in Phuket province. Phuket: No food in the cage while they were locked up, we hand-fed them bananas and some sugar cane, then they went back into their cages with nothing to graze on. The jungle elephant sanctuaries are definitely tue thical place to go and all proceeds go to the elephants food as well as purchasing other elephants to bring them into the sanctuary and save them from the logging and entertainment businesses. There is a crazy amount of Elephant sanctuaries in Chiang Mai. This is the most important flag in my opinion. Every time I google these places they say they include these things but I cant see it on here ! Well, that is because not all sanctuaries in Phuket are ethical. This park is phasing out the option to swim with the elephants because it can be stressful and unnatural for the animals. After reading most of the comments I have some questions about this great experience: Why it Matters: 3 Experiences: Doi Inthanon Tour, Elephant Sanctuary, Trekking Trail, Half Day Experience Rescue Elephant Centre in Chiang Mai, Elephant Care at Bamboo Elephant Family Care from Chiang Mai, Elephant in Wild Sanctuary, Trekking and Rafting in Chiang Mai, Best Seller! Our hope is to lead by example, and contribute to a positive change in the perception of elephants; to witness a future where elephants are not ridden, poached, overworked, or abused, and are instead treated with care, love, and respect. For their use please contact them directly. Select options. HA, so hilarious. Our cruise ship was docked at Laem Chabang overnight and we had booked a visit to the Pattaya Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Montri Todtane, the founder of PES, is a former . While most of the time the commands were harmless, like saying bon to the elephants so they would open their mouths wide and you could feed them, or the caretakers commanding the elephants to spray you or kiss you with their trunks, the lifting did irk me a little bit. PO Box Q139, QVB Sydney NSW 1230. Our ethical and sustainable sanctuary offers visitors the chance to interact with these majestic animals in their natural habitat. Afterwards had a shower (good facilities) and a very tasty lunch. Wait for the elephants to wander into the area from the acres of open and natural habitat. We unloaded and met the other visitors and before we ever had any interaction with the elephants, we learned about these beautiful creatures and an easy dos and donts, which I found very important. They finished all of the food and then ate some more after we swam around with them. The country has only 20 percent of its teak forests left, and a ban on timber was placed in April 2015 - leaving many ellies with nowhere to go and sitting ducks for poachers (Note, once an elephant has been broken, it can not be independent again). Visit the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Pattaya, the first ever operational elephant Sanctuary in Chonburi province. Wildlife conservationists and activists alike agree that hundreds if not thousands of elephants are being systematically exploited and abused by mahouts or elephant trainers throughout Central and Southeast Asia as well as Africa. . Yes, elephant tours in ethical sanctuaries might be a lot more expensive, but the money you spend will be sure to go directly to making sure the elephants you came to see stay healthy and happy. Located deep in the jungle, you can experience life with the elephants like very few visitors will ever have the opportunity to. We did the full day tour, with pick up from our hotel in Chiang Mai. Each volunteer group is rotated between the camps so the elephants arent continuously having excessive human interaction. Phang Na Elephant Park is a gem we highly encourage travelers to visit. Truly, look no further! A screenshot from a video of one elephant tied to the ground in one small area at the Phuket location. ENJOy, Lovely time with the elephants who seemed relaxed and happy. But I want to know where there is a good one, Jon shared the positive experience he had with an Elephant Sanctuary here: https://www.vegantravel.com/first-ethical-elephant-sanctuary-phuket/. If I wanted to come to a tourist attraction that included a man running around with water balloons in his shirt, maybe I would have booked it. Full description. I am not good at listening to English. Our trip to Thailand wouldnt have been complete without spending time with elephants, but if we couldnt find a sanctuary that promotes and practices ethical tourism, we would have gladly left Thailand without ever seeing an elephant. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Phuket Experience - Klook United States VeganTravel.comis a place where vegans share their passion for travel and adventure, help grow interest in goingvegan, shed light on the issues animals are facing around the globe, and help build a more sustainable and compassionate world. We The experience started very well, with some good information. You can see the love and adoration the volounteers have for these animals. The sanctuary was founded in July 2014 in the area of Chiang Mai after concerns were raised for the local population of elephants. Unsure where to go? 10.30 AM: First introduction about habits and history of Asian Elephants. To keep the animals out of reach of food is a horrible thing to do, do I really need to explain why this matters? There ARE however, several large enclosures that the elephants are kept in overnight. There is one single camp with no gate around the border, so instead they resort to cages and tying up the elephants. 13 ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand Natalie at Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Vegan food, culture, and elephants are probably the top three reasons Marissa and I had Thailand at the top of our list for this trip. No breaks for the elephants except the glamorized hour break they get between the groups. ciao, garantito che in questo posto non maltrattino gli elefanti per renderli pi amichevoli con gli uomini? Will open on 15 March 2019 !! Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Uncensored. There are no fences and the elephants are never restrained. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee (located in Hohenwald), is a true refuge where elephants rescued from circuses, ride operators, roadside zoos, and other abusive outfits can spend the rest of their lives in a spacious green habitat doing only what they choose to do. Elephant sanctuaries which we do & don't support Covid-19 precautions We are an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project located approximately 60km from the city of Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Can I participate in the program? Natalie at Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai: Address, Phone Number, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai Reviews: 4.5/5. There, you will enjoy a delicious lunch of traditional Thai food and fresh fruit, before being re-united with your elephant friends. Waking up at 6 AM to travel an hour from my comfy hotel was not my idea of a good time. 5) Is there Spanish guide? Best respectful elephant sanctuaries in Thailand! Fantastic day with the elephants who are very well cared for. There are only so many after all. About this activity Free cancellation Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund Reserve now & pay later Keep your travel plans flexible book your spot and pay nothing today. A place that would facilitate an encounter between a person and an elephant surely is a fantastic locale. 3) Are there different companies selling this excursion or there is only one where I can purchase it? Swimwear underneath so you could change easily. We were there for about 5 hours spending time feeding and bathing the elephants (mud bath). Is it just a matter of being nice to the elephants? It is a learning experience, but it is also an amazing chance to become friends with one of nature's most intelligent gentle giants. Do remember this is a sanctuary not a zoo and so the fee you pay will go directly to protecting these majestic giants. "Now it is our turn to give back.". Once you have met and spent time with each of the elephants, you can retire to a relaxing platform overlooking a picturesque river and jungle. If you want to support a small, budding family business and ethical elephant practice, then you are going to want to check out the newest elephant park in Phang Na. Visited Camp 1 and was glad that my family and myself made the effort to join the morning program. 1. These are beautiful majestic animals that desperately need our help and protection, but are too often abused so that tourists can feel like they had a wildlife experience or post selfies on social. [] Here is a useful article that I found that compares the two elephant sanctuaries. []. Founded in July 2014, it is a joint initiative between members of the Karen hill-tribes and Chiang Mai locals who were concerned about the welfare of elephants in Thailand. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. The owner of the business focuses on old and injured elephants, they do not allow bathing with the elephants, and limit interaction with them. The tours start in the city and an open-air van company vehicle drives you and a group of people 2-hours deep into the mountains where a half dozen of the friendliest Asian elephants and looking forward to meeting you. If you find that an elephant tour is a lot cheaper, it is likely that you will find the other red flags weve mentioned as well these businesses are out to make money most of all, with the money going straight into their pockets with little (if any) concern for the elephants that work to make that money in the first place. The elephants are walking free and there is not such things like hooks or any other kind of thing that can harm the animals. Tying into the previous point, elephants are also social animals and live in families. Natalie the mom was perfectly comfortable being in her enclosure with her baby. Are you wondering why we have added the word 'ethical' to the elephant sanctuary in our article? You can tell the staff loves the elephants. Some sanctuaries we had previously heard amazing things about had taken turns for the unethical worse. They roared their excitement as they rushed in to meet us. US$ 44.45. They need limited human interaction, if any. A long dream of mine came finally true and choosing Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Pattaya was the best choice for it! Where in Pattaya is this elephant sanctuary? 3.00 PM: Change clothes and walk back through the Karen Village. Set against the picturesque jungle bordering Khao Phra Thaeo National Park, a herd of elephants, between the ages of 36 to 70, romp freely across lush pastures. It is a true elephant sanctuary supported by save the elephant foundation. Have just asked for my deposit. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. 12.00 PM: Lunch: Buffet of Traditional Thai Food, 1.00 PM: Go to the River with the Elephants to take a bath and swim with them. The sanctuary served a completely vegetarian menu and when we let them know we were vegan, they went into the kitchen and prepared us two completely vegan dishes without hesitation. Can I get a taxi directly from the port to the sanctuary and pay admission or is it only organised tours that are admitted. Dedicated to conserving and promoting the well-being of elephants, the park offers opportunities to feed and walk the elephants through the dense mountain forests, witnessing their natural behaviors and a sense of freedom, as well as helping to renew the elephant's habitat by planting trees in the forest. Has a more solidly ethical sanctuary near Chang Mai been found? You travel about a hr and 15 mins out of Chang Mai with a toilet stop on the way to get a drink and food if you wish too. Judy. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Pattaya Experience - Klook United States Each of these enclosures had PILES of food. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Phuket: The sanctuary was founded in July 2014 in the area of Chiang Mai after concerns were raised for the local population of elephants. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project. I fell clumsily down her back into the water, and one kid face-planted pretty hard on her. How ethical is the elephant 'sanctuary' you're visiting? It's an amazing thing to see considering almost all 30 elephants that live here were once subject to abuse and mistreatment. Hallo I did research into the various options and I liked that this elephant experience meets ethical standards. He said they eat all day. I was standing next to Natalie (with the wooden cage separating us) observing her as she swayed back and forth *red flag*, and the mahout shouted another command to Natalie so that she would kiss me on the cheek. People did NOT just do whatever they wanted when we were dropped off. My group visited on a day were the weather was horrendous (Thailand storm came over quickly) however the leaders were very accommodating and allowed us to still experience feeding the elephants in the best way for the situation. Mahouts knew how to handle each elephant without (visibly) hurting or forcing them anywhere and you could see how much they cared about the wellbeing of the elephants. The staff in the camp was warm and welcoming. Thanksfully, the end of the day includes a bath in to clean everyone up for the long drive back to the city. The guide acted very inmature and uprofessionel around the elephant. We DID wait about 15feet from the elephant enclosures for instruction, and were then encouraged by the caretakers to come interact with the animals. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary Chiang Mai - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go The safety briefing was clear and the caretakers are warm and friendly. Anyone know of any truly ethical sancturarys in Phuket? You may use these HTML tags and attributes: Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable elephant ecotourism project with locations in four provinces throughout Thailand. Thanks to your blog we have opted not to support this institution and will continue researching other alternatives that practice ethical treatment of their animals. Home Elephant Jungle Sanctuary - Ethical? From their size and longevity to their incredible intelligence, complex social structures, and immovable loyalty to their families, elephants are amazing animals that are very much in a league of their own. Even non abusive treatment can be problematic for elephants. Experience the wonder of elephants up close at Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai! Hi, Although they are naturally calm creatures, they can panic when they come under stress. By clicking "Sign Up" or "Sign In with Facebook" I acknowledge and, Join 100k like-minded travelers by subscribing to iExplore, 3 Ways to Get Wet and Wild in Myrtle Beach, 14 Landmarks That Should Be Considered World Wonders, Spice up Your Life at a Thai Cooking School, 5 Sydney Selfies You Need to Make Everyone Super Jelly, China in a Nutshell: 7 Not to Miss Gems for a Newbie, 5 Things to Do in Vegas That Dont Involve Gambling (or Getting Hammered), These Are the Most Peaceful Countries on the Planet, Deserts in Bloom: 6 Spots for Springtime Wildflower Watching, Yoho National Park Is the Most Incredible Place You've Never Heard Of. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: 119/10 Thapae Rd Chang Klan, Muang, Chiang Mai, 50100. I was in Thailand 2 weeks on tour too many temples, not enough animals;). Phuket: Despite surviving on tourism dollars, the Maws allow only 25 tourists a day so the elephants are not overwhelmed. To see those babies running free and so happy just really was life changing for me. Driving in, we could spot elephants wandering around the jungle-completely different from the ones in the riding camps we also passed along the way. I dont pay sanctuaries to kill animals not lucky enough to have sanctuaries of their own. First time visitor to elephant sanctuary. As animal lovers and vegetarians my wife and I were were considering attending the sanctuary in Phuket. Now they have more friends than they can keep track of and get to frolick and feed all day long. Chiang Mai elephant sanctuary - My Thailand Tours Elephant Jungle Sanctuary halfday The package deal includes two traditional Thai buffet meals, pick up and drop off to your accommodation in Chiang Mai (terms and conditions apply), drinking water and even food for feeding the elephants! Watch the elephants interacting with each other and foraging for edible plants. THANK YOU RACHAEL! However, there are great places to visit where you can get up close and personal with the precious pachyderms - and put your money and time to good use. This awesome elephant sanctuary offers visitors the chance to "Own an Elephant for a Day," which means intimately taking care of these majestic creatures. Awareness is slow-coming but a necessary part of preserving the future of these gentle giants. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Onestamente non lo so. There are seven mahouts, and one elephant per mahout. Elephants are a huge draw when traveling to Southeast Asia and Africa - but many "sanctuaries" are havens in name only for these beautiful animals. The activities include feeding them lots of bananas, playing in the mud and washing off the leathery pachyderms in the nearby stream. Before the tourists arrive and after they leave, one must realize that the elephants in some of these places are not being treated ethically. The finale was making paper out of elephant poo (who wants to do that!) That Naughty Boy was so joyful! While there you can also visit the sacred forest clearing of Kaya Mtae which is used as a gathering place for traditional spiritual leaders to this day. You dont realize how bad these animals need help until youre educated, all toursists in phuket should go here, no where else. It was only chickens that they put in our food this time! We look forward to hearing from you. Mahouts were in constant play/joke/entertaining mode. The lessons explained to us on how to feed, bath and experience these magnificent creatures led to a seamlessly enjoyable day. These are not rescued elephants, so the experience is more like a safari, where you stay within the jeep for safety while seeking out the elephants in their natural habitat. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Copyright 2009-2023DESTINATIONS UNKNOWNAll Rights Reserved, Immerse yourself in the wonders of Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai. You need to pre-book your place :), We visited the sanctuary on March 4th 2020, and our guide was the awesome Donald. I do agree on one point: The commands. If they are domesticated to be safe for human contact then be aware that there has been cruelty used to achieve that. 2 Days in Chiang Mai Thailand Where in the World is Maria? If you really interested to see elephants on your trip to Thailand then this is the place to go! Chiang Mai, Thailand You can spread the word on social media. Travel from your accommaction in Bangkok in a comfortable and air-conditioned vehicle. Elephant Jungle Sanctuary is an ethical and sustainable eco-tourism project. The most important thing is to be aware of your choices and make the right one. It was little scary because elephants are free, amazing experience. Chang Mai has a bad reputation when it comes to animal tourism, so this sanctuary is your best bet. What makes an elephant sanctuary ethical in the first place? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Head Office: 477 Kent St Sydney NSW 2000. The 6 Best Elephant Sanctuaries In Chiang Mai 2023 Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia Now home to Kaavan, once dubbed 'the loneliest elephant in the world', this 32,000-acre stretch of jungle on the edge of the Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest protected areas in Cambodia. All sanctuaries provide ethical and sustainable eco-tourism, which I REALLY liked. Available in: Franais Deutsche Espaol, Activities: Learning - Swimming and Washing - Feeding - Mud Bath - Caring, Thong Elephant & eco-trekking Karen, 2 days, Elephant Sanctuary Thailand 2023 - 2024, 8.00 AM - 8.30 AM: Pick up at Your Hotel or Meeting Points. It is also important to us that you learn as much as possible about the elephants and why it is important to protect them. I visited the Chiang Mai sanctuary in the mountains of northern Thailand. And much like how people get stressed when working with other people over an entire day, tourism elephants get stressed interacting with tourists day in and day out. The staff brought wheelbarrows full and dumped the food out in three huge piles that we chose from to give to the elephants. Is the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai ethical? The U.S. Attorney's Office has announced two Louisville nursing homes will close after multiple violations were found amid a nationwide backlog of inspections. . Founder, Edwin, is a Dutch expat who has lived in Thailand for 20 years and is fluent in Thai and works tirelessly to help the animals. I have a trip planned to Thailand in April and want to visit this place, would you recommend booking ahead or is it fairly easy to book the day of for a full day tour? The personnel is friendly and attentive, but they speak very poor English overall (which might be considered as authentic). 11.00 AM: Meet the Elephants and take your time to play and feed them ! Truly ethical elephant sanctuaries limit human-elephant interactions to a minimum to maintain the elephant's calm lifestyle. Overall, this project has excellent intentions to protect the dwindling population of Asian elephants. My family of five had an amazing time at Into the Wild Elephant Camp. Explore the elephant' world with love and care for them. Baby elephant born into Phuket Elephant Jungle Sanctuarys captivity. Our instructor Sonje (forgive me if I misspelled) made us incredibly comfortable while sharing time with the elephants. Gallery. After all, elephants arent exactly light eaters, eating as much as 300 pounds of food in a single day. You'll help feed them giant bushels of bananas, bathe them in mud, and treat them to cane sugar (harvested by you with machetes), before cooling off in the river together. The Sanctuary opened in 2014 and is a joint initiative run by members of the Karen hill-tribes and local Thai people who were concerned about the welfare of elephants. I look forward to hearing from you all, Elephant Jungle Sanctuary: Ethical Wildlife Haven I want to ride and feed and wash and just generally spend time close and among elephants but obviously dont want to go to a horrible cruel place to do so! Wishlist. He let me know there would be vegetarian options and some vegan stuff. Enjoy an experience far from the city, in a small group at the heart of the jungle, and discover the world of our local camp! The daily visit is from 6:30 am to 12:30 pm, and the afternoon visit is from 1:30 to 6:30 pm. The Karen Hill-Tribes and Chiang Mai locals are joining to come up with a solution to help maintain the healthy population of elephants . Many thanks for your feedback. Fortunately my wife was on a mission, this was her primary objective when Chiang Mai was added to our itinerary. So, it may have changed for the worse. Read our. There are two loads of humans every single day. The elephants are amazing to see. Tourists are trained how to approach an elephant, how to check their health, and how to communicate with the animals through spoken commands. Tea coffee water all in with the price. I honestly cant wait to go back. We researched the variety of elephant tours available this one came out top on everything the lads who run the camp are dedicated to the care of elephants yet make your day special they only allow a max of about 30 people a day so you get plenty interaction with elephants and its not overcrowded. If you really want to get up close and personal with these elephants, however, there . Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary Baan Tuek In 2005, British animal activist Katherine Connor Connor rescued a baby elephant from the tourist trade, whom she named "Boon Lott" (which means "survivor" in Thai). The mamma elephant, Natalie, lifted me over her back while in the pond at one point because a caretaker instructed her to do so. 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