Alternative Livelihoods and Elephant Rescue in Thailand

Summary

Help mahouts and elephant owners return to their community in northern Thailand and bring their elephants back to live in the forest avoiding work in circus shows and street begging.

Background

Street begging and working in tourist camps significantly reduces the life expectancy of this endangered species diminishing their high cultural importance and placing individuals in inhumane living conditions. Working elephants are waiting to join our forest reintroduction program and funds are desperately needed to facilitate this. Mahouts and owners join our education and alternative livelihoods program along with their elephants to ensure they have a sustainable alternative form of work.

Project aims

Living in natural social herds in the forest has tremendous impact on elephant’s psychological health and provides a balanced diet, dramatically increasing life expectancy. No longer forced to work, these elephants will live longer and happier lives

Long-term sustainability

We plan to host a sustainable breeding population of elephants living naturally in the forest. Each new elephant that joins the rescued herd increases chances of long-term success for this growing population of elephants in the forest.