Our Objective

At Thai Elephant Home we believe our elephants should be treated with respect and care. We love our elephants and treat them as a member of our family. Therefore:

• Our elephants never work too much, the work is paced and there is plenty of time for rest and play.
• There is never any abuse, mishandling or ill-treatment of elephants.
• We only allow one customer on an elephant at a time, accompanied by a one mahout. While you may see more then one person per elephant at other elephant camps, it is much easier for the elephants to have no more than 2 people on at a time. We do this to ensure that our elephants are not only healthy but happy
• The hook we use to train and control the elephants is not harmful to the elephants. It is a simple tool used for controlling the animals, but because of their thick skin only causes a small pinch
• We are happy to care for and cure any sick elephants. Pregnant and sick elephants and their trainers are always welcome at the camp and we will help them look after any elephant and nurse it back to health. This includes arranging any special transport, medication or vet visits they may need.
• At other elephant camps, you see a large wooden chair placed on the elephant to carry people. These seats are heavy and can make the elephant's skin blister and callous. Instead of the large seat, we ride bareback on the head or neck of the elephant. This is not only more comfortable for the elephant, but is an more intimate and friendlier way of interacting with the animal.
• Our elephants are lucky enough to be close to black mud, which is very beneficial for their skin and acts as a natural big repellent. Elephants that have bathed in black mud have more rough and dry skin tones.
• We seek to preserve and maintain the lifestyle of local communities and the mahouts, by operating in a sustainable and considerate way. All visitors to the camp learn about the traditional lifestyle, food and clothing of the mahouts
• We believe that our elephants' work is beneficial for the ongoing well being of elephants in Thailand and the local communities they work with.

With the same passion that we hold for our elephants, we are also dedicated to environmental sustainability in order to preserve the spirit, culture, and environment of Thailand. We try our best to make our camp eco-friendly with the kind our products and energy uses. We have also started an environmental education program, that teaches kids in the community about environmental issues in their area as well as the broader problems like global warming. Ban Chang realizes that education is the best motivator for solving the world's problems and starts at a very local level. Guests and customers at Thai Elephant House also contribute to our efforts by planting trees around the camp. It is a great way to leave a positive impact during your stay in Thailand! For more about our community reforestation project click here