Lampang-Chiang Mai Highway, 054-829-333. www.thailandelephant.org
The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC) is home to more than 50 Asian elephants and six white/albino elephants owned by HM King Bhumibol. Operated by the Forest Industry Organisation, the government-owned center sets on over a 760-rai plot of land and is under the royal patronage. The center houses the elephant hospital which offers free treatments and care for elephants from all the regions in Thailand.
How to support them:
You can visit the center and enjoy the daily shows at 10am, 11am and 1.30pm, elephant riding and a hospital tour. The proceeds from the tourism activities go toward the center and its hospital. Or you can make a donation to Krung Thai Bangkok Account Number 784-0251-277, Tesco Lotus Lampang Branch or Account Number 503-1-84611-9, Lampang Branch.
Chiang Saen, 053-910-200. www.helpingelephants.org
Set right next to the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort, the Golden Triangle Asia Elephant foundation aims to help mistreated elephants that are helpless by promoting ethical work for the elephants and their mahouts.
How to support them:
You can visit the foundation and participate in activities with elephants, stay at Anantara or simply make a donation through paypal account at www.helpingelephants.org/donate.html
350 Moo 8, Ram-Indra Soi 61, 02-945-7124/-6, www.elephant-soraida.com
Operating for over 20 years, the foundation is the world’s first hospital for elephants, which offers free treatments to elephants from all over the region. The hospital has medical tools and kind-hearted vets to take care of sick or maltreated elephants.
How to support them:
Nothing hands on, unless you are a vet, but you can make a donation to Account Number 111-2-27207-8, Siam Commercial Bank, Ratchayothin branch.
1 Ratmakka Rd., Phra Singh, Chiang Mai, 053-272-855. www.elephantnaturefoundation.org
Located an hour from Chiang Mai, the elephant park is in beautiful Mae Taeng Valley, offering a natural habitat for elephants that allows them to live peacefully in natural surroundings. Home to 30 rescued elephants, the park is maintained by its full-time staff and volunteers who take care of the place and elephants.
How to support them:
You can make a day visit, where you can learn about the elephants and help the staff feed and bathe them. Or for a more intensive experience, go for the seven-day volunteer program where you’ll be living at the sanctuary with the creatures and helping out at the park. Count B2,500 for a one-day visit (includes buffet lunch and transportation to and from your hotel in Chiang Mai) or B12,000 for the seven-day volunteer program (includes all meals and drinks and accommodation in bamboo huts with a fan and bedding).
Moo 6,Tambon Thamairuak, Amphoe Thayang, Petchaburi. 032-458135. www.wfft.org
The foundation has rescued a number of wounded and mistreated wild animals such as monkeys and elephants. It’s also launched campaigns and activities aiming to educate the public especially children to stop animal cruelty and the use of animals for entertainment, as well as preventing hunting and promoting conservation of wild animals.
How to support them:
You can adopt animals, including elephants starting from US$50 (about B1,500) a year. View the animals’ profiles at www.wfft.org/adoptions. Donations can be made to Siam Commercial Bank, Thayang Branch, account 708-208086-6.
