Having ridden elephants in Laos on our honeymoon, Geoff was only interested in doing something elephant-related here that would keep him firmly on the ground. So, we were lucky to find an elephant sanctuary in Hua Hin that would allow us to do just that.
The elephant sanctuary fosters 7 elephants who have been rescued from abuse or life threatening situations.
The terrible circumstances by which the elephants came to the sanctuary are distressing. Some have been worked to the bone by farmers, not given time to rest, recover from injury or even wash. It is when the elephants get to the point of being less useful for the farmer that the farmer approaches the sanctuary and hopes they will pay to take the elephant off their hands.
One elephant, for example, who had just arrived at the sanctuary had been worked so hard carrying and towing things during his life on the farm that the sanctuary had to keep something strapped to his back because he doesn't understand how to operate without hauling something with him at all times. They are working to wean him of this routine.
The terrible circumstances by which the elephants came to the sanctuary are distressing. Some have been worked to the bone by farmers, not given time to rest, recover from injury or even wash. It is when the elephants get to the point of being less useful for the farmer that the farmer approaches the sanctuary and hopes they will pay to take the elephant off their hands.
One elephant, for example, who had just arrived at the sanctuary had been worked so hard carrying and towing things during his life on the farm that the sanctuary had to keep something strapped to his back because he doesn't understand how to operate without hauling something with him at all times. They are working to wean him of this routine.
Other elephants have been hit by cars after working the streets of Bangkok selling "feeding bananas" to tourists for 12 hours a day. Another elephant was too old to work at the elephant village proving rides to tourists anymore, and was simply tied to a tree to starve to death.
When the sanctuary hears about these stories it then does their best to raise the money needed to buy these elephants and help them recover. Although these animals will never be released back into the wild, the sanctuary hopes they can at least provide a comfortable life for the elephants for the rest of their lives.
One of the ways that they raise money is through educational outreach days with tourists. Arriving first thing, we learn all about elephants and their lives in Thailand and beyond. After an extensive briefing session, we are then introduced to the elephants and can help feed them food and medicine, take them for a walk and then bathe them to help them stay cool.
While Nairobi's David Sheldrick Foundation still has our full commitment for the incredible work they do saving orphan elephants and helping them recover and hopefully return to the wild (please adopt an elephant in support!), we nonetheless appreciated the commitment that the staff and volunteers had to these remarkable, friendly, playful and sweet elephants. A morning at the sanctuary and you cannot help but be charmed by these gentle giants. It is just tragic to think that the ivory trade, hunting and inhumane treatment is threatening the very existence of these enchanting animals.
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