Elephant Refuge in Thailand!

Hi friends! For anyone who knows me even a little bit, I'm sure you all know how exciting this is for me! The day has finally come!! I have come across the brilliant opportunity to help take care of abandoned, orphaned and abused elephants on a beautiful sanctuary in Thailand for 2 weeks this winter (December 8th-December 22nd)!

In 1988, working elephants used in the logging industry were banned, and since then, hundreds of elephants have been abandoned and left on the streets to become "begging elephants". This means, the owners leave their elephants with no shelter from the hot sun in hopes that they will beg for food on their own. Due too the high costs of feeding such a large animal, most owners use this method to rid themselves of the responsibility. This practice is illegal. On top of that, elephants that are left to roam the streets are often drugged to make them easier to handle, and they are also severely beaten with spike hammers to make them perform tricks. Other elephants have been sent to elephant camps where up to 15,000 Asian elephants are held in captivity as work animals. In these desperately hot conditions with little food or water or shelter from the sun, elephants are also exploited in the name of "entertainment" for tourists. In all cases, these intelligent and beautiful animals lose their dignity and freedom.  

What this sanctuary does is provide the elephants with a natural ground of earth, with fresh air instead of traffic fumes as well as the company of other elephants and care of volunteers such as myself to help rehabilitate them. On the sanctuary, my time will be spent cleaning elephant enclosures, feeding the elephants, harvesting food for the elephants, washing the elephants and maintaining the elephant refuge, as well as spending spare time on additional care of other animals on the Wildlife Rescue Centre such as gibbons, black bears, tigers, and macaques. I couldn't be more excited, or more motivated by this incredible opportunity.

What your donations will cover are the many fees associated with this Elephant Rescue and Wildlife Rescue Centre including upkeep of the centre and positive publicity as well as my trip to the sanctuary. Thank you so much to everyone who sees the importance that this trip represents for me and the elephants.

Please make sure to attach your name to every sponsor, I would really like to thank each of you. And for anyone who would like to follow my blog giving a little bit more detail on my preparation for the trip as well as updates, pictures and stories while I am there, here's the link:

http://vicariousadventureer.wordpress.com/

"Do what you're passionate about"