This foundation works with elephant owners and mahouts to improve the welfare of their elephants, by providing an alternative to the harsh elephant camps. Working within a Karen hill tribe village, we will provide education, create opportunities for sustainable development within the community, and work together to preserve the surrounding forest.

Mae Sri Chan is 55 years old and has had a long working life, in both the logging industry and many trekking camps. Bua Chan is 36 and has worked in tourist camps her whole life. Their friendship began when they worked at one of Chiang Mai's busiest camps together, but when the pandemic began and tourism stopped, they were separated and taken back to their owners' villages.

With no income from tourism, there are no funds to pay a mahout to care for the elephants. They have each remained chained for the majority of the day, with no elephant contact. This is incredibly detrimental to an elephant's health. They are highly intelligent animals with complex social structures and strong family bonds.

Tourism has returned to Thailand so the owners have the opportunity to send these elephants back to a working camp, and get quite a decent income. Instead, they are going to allow them to retire with us. While they are with us, they will spend their days foraging in their natural habitat with elephant companionship. We will welcome short-stay guests and volunteers, for those people who would like to respectfully experience elephants.

Seeing these elephants reunite this week was incredible! Help us keep them TOGETHER and in their natural habitat!