Location:

Bangkok, Thailand

Program Type:

Volunteer Abroad

Degree Level:

Undergraduate

Work Types:

Animals, Environment

Duration:

1-3 months

Program Overview

Program Description:

A chance to volunteer with elephants at an Elephant Sanctuary and home in Mae Chaem, situated in the countryside of Northern Thailand. Help to give elephants a chance to live free. This elephant volunteer project provides an alternative for elephants and their owners to move away from the busy city life and hardships of trekking & tourist rides by providing a retirement home for elderly elephants, as well as engaging the local community in environmental and education projects. You can join for 1 week up to 4 weeks all year round and we have places all throughout 2015 available. Individuals, groups, families and students all welcome. Cost for food & accommodation during the project, transport, backup and support starts at £450

Volunteering with elephants means you will be involved in a range of tasks in the sanctuary such as;walking with the elephants, bathing the elephants, preparing fruit for the elephants (cleaning, cutting), feeding the elephants, going to cut grass and corn for elephants, helping with projects around the property for the elephants or in the local village.Another main focus for this project is small animals rescue and release volunteer work. In addition, Eco-tourism and environmental conservation is promoted through planting trees, local education and community development. Volunteers have the opportunity to work together with the community and can join in on community projects.

This old elephant retirement volunteer project in Mae Chaem, Chiang Mai, Thailand was established in 2011, with the aim of educating both owners and mahouts, as well as local communities, on the elephant situation in Thailand and providing an alternative for owners to retire their elephants to a place to call home. The project currently rents six elephants; four older retired elephants, and a mother and baby elephant, to provide an alternative for their Thai owners so they can keep their elephants out of work from trekking camps or in the mass tourism industry and in a natural home where they can enjoy freedom and have the ability to behave like real elephants, without being ridden or held captive by humans. They also rescue, rehabilitate and release local wildlife back into the wild. They are also a sanctuary to tortoises, dogs, cats and other small animals, caring for roughly 26 rescued cats, 13 rescued dogs and 2 tortoises.

Setting Description:

The project is located in the District of Mae Chaem situated just 2.5hrs drive South-West of Chiang Mai, amongst beautiful mountain scenery and lush countryside. Situated in a valley in Mae Tan, Thung Yaw Maechaem, the sanctuary has breath taking views of Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand.

Cost:

The cost to join for a 1 week project is 450 GBP, 2 weeks is 750 GBP, 3 weeks is 1050 GBP and 1 month is is 1350 GBP. Your payment covers all your food, bottled water and accommodation (either on site or in a local homestay) during the project, pick up and drop off in Chiang Mai, project training and supervision and WorkingAbroad Projects backup and placement support.