Ethical elephant sanctuary developed in collaboration with World Animal Protection. Observation only experience, no riding, bathing or feeding. Offers half and full day tours with pick up and drop off in Chiang Mai. Lunch is vegetarian and the majority is vegan. Open Mon-Sun 9:00am-5:00pm.
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45/2 Moo19, Baan Pratumuang, Maewin, Maewang, Chiang Mai, Thailand, 50360
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- Reservations required
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Last update on 23 Jan 2023 by Guest
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Added by Here.To.Travel_Jade on 23 Jan 2023
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3 Reviews
First Review by Here.To.Travel_Jade
AlexSmallwood
Points +22
Not as ethical as you think - Edit
Better than most sanctuaries in that you don't touch, bathe or feed the elephants.
Read moreThe issue is that the animals can't go anywhere without their mahout (keeper), so they're under constant surveillance and "guided" on where to be for the tourists. They also have schedule where they go back to their "shelter" before the big feeding event. the mahouts also help feed and bathe them so not sure how much better this really is.
We then questioned our guide on what happens to the elephants at night time when the mahouts sleep, to which she said they go back to their shelter and after some back and forth she mentioned they use chains to keep them there. Wild elephants sleep an average of two hours, meaning they will be kept chained up for an extended period of time whilst the mahouts aren't available.
Unfortunately, it seems that this company "ethical" washes and uses the same tactics as other sanctuaries.
This is a link to the World Animal Protection article stating that Chang Chill used to do the tourist things and kept them chained for 23 hours per day and have started to transition into a better sanctuary. But it has a very long way to go. Chang Chill haven't saved any elephants, they bought them for the same reasons as other "sanctuaries". Money and tourism.
https://www.worldanimalprotection.org/latest/blogs/international-womens-day-helping-elephants/
Nothing but a glorified zoo.
We went to a national park in Hau Hin "Kui Buri National Park" where we saw elephants and other animals truly in the wild and it was incredible. Highly recommended.
Updated from previous review on 2024-11-13
Pros: Elephants
Cons: Chained up when mahouts aren't available , Mahouts feed and bathe them, Elephants are guided on where to be
Guest
Jessie_H
Points +211
A legitimately ethical elephant sanctuary - Edit
This sanctuary was 100% legit. After doing a lot of research into ethical elephant sanctuaries, this was the best. You have no contact with the elephants (including no bathing or feeding, which is what some other "ethical" sanctuaries offer).
Read moreOur group of 7 people were guided into the sanctuary grounds and we sought out the elephants to observe them - they aren't ushered in to see tourists. Each elephant has their mahout (Aka "keeper") whom looks after them, and is with them when the tourists are in the grounds; this was for safety reasons (for both the tourists and the elephants). The elephants are encouraged to forage for their own food (and we saw this happen), but they are also fed bamboo at different times, sugarcane as a snack and vegan vitamin balls (which you help prepare for them). The elephants know when sugarcane snack time is, so they make their own way down to the river and you can observe them bathe themselves and eat their snacks.
All elephants appeared well taken care of. One elephant had a mouth issue, and our guide advised that they brought in a vetenarian to inspect it. The vet recommended daily washing of the wound and treatment applied. We saw the mahout provide this treatment.
Our guide was fantastic, explaining the actions that are taken to provide for and respect the elephants (in line with World Animal Protection rules). He also explained why tours that involve riding, bathing, feeding etc. were stressful for elephants and why they don't do it here. He also talked about not supporting other animal exploitative events/sanctuaries, including monkeys in the circus, tiger petting zoos, etc.
The lunch was mostly vegan (rice, pad thai, potato curry, steamed mix veggies, watermelon), with the only non-vegan option being an egg omelette.
Overall, this was definitely the best and most ethical elephant sanctuary option. They don't have any brochures, but all of their information is online and you can book with them directly.
Guest
Here.To.Travel_Jade
Points +9930
Ethical elephant sanctuary - Edit
This elephant camp in collaboration with World Animal Protection have developed a more ethical elephant tourism model. They are strictly an observation only elephant camp with no direct contact. We went on a one day visit and got to see the elephants being elephants- foraging for food, bathing in the river and mud and wandering about. There are observation platforms that overlook the river and feeding stations. We got to help prepare additional food- sugar cane and also some balls with medicinal herbs etc to support with additional nutrition- they went down better with some elephants than others. There were four elephants here when we visited. They come with their mahouts who own them. They follow them around to ensure they are safe and don’t wander off the land and cause any problems with neighbouring farms etc. It was a wonderful day and we’re glad we visited
Read moreGuest
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