Elephant refuge program -Thailand

Hi guys!

Ever since I was a child I have always loved and felt extremely passionate about animals and their welfare. I am now older and have the time and ability to contribute to this cause. After some searching I found a great opportunity to care for ill-treated elephants at a refuge center in Thailand this summer from 24^th August- 8^th September.

 Just to let you know a little bit about why I feel so strongly about this cause and why your funds will in no way, be given in vain, I have written up a brief.

 If you have been to Thailand, you’ll know that elephants are a big part of Thai culture mainly for tourism. 95% of elephants in Thailand are domesticated working elephants and only wild elephants have any sort of legal protection. This leaves majority of the elephant population susceptible to ill treatment by their owners. As large as these magnificent mammals are, you can imagine the huge amount of food and nourishment they require. Due to this, they are left for days and even weeks without food or water. Also, some owners use torture-training methods that include chaining domesticated elephants in tiny spaces and brutally abusing them.

 Baby elephants are illegally captured from the wild in Burma, then abused in Thailand and trained for commercial purposes like elephant shows etc. Whilst some organizations are mindful of the animal’s wellbeing, majority are not. They treat them heartlessly and parade them across the streets in Thailand, making money off tourists who take photos with young elephants, ride them or watch them paint! Behind the happy smiles of tourists, there is the dark reality of elephant torture and smuggling.

 The center in Bangkok provides a safe and healthy environment for elephants away from the brutality of the outside world. It needs the assistance of volunteers such as myself to help rehabilitate and care for them. During my time there, I will be cleaning elephant enclosures, feeding them, bathing them and maintaining the refuge. I will also spend any spare time taking care of other animals including gibbons, macaques and langurs. It will be a fantastic experience and I hope to make a difference to these gentle giants.

 What your donations will cover are the volunteering fee for my trip to the wildlife center including flight, accommodation, meals and the centre’s upkeep. US$1297 (£840 approx.) is the Program fee and US$600 (£350) is the travel expense.  The accommodation is extremely rudimentary and frugal so majority of your donations will go towards the upkeep of the elephants and the refuge center.

 I’m extremely excited and motivated to work towards the welfare of elephants and can’t wait to experience this. I would really appreciate any amount you could contribute for this worthy cause. As I would like to thank each and everyone of you personally please mention your names when you donate.

Unfortunately, there is a problem with the site and IT DOES NOT ACCEPT INDIAN DEBIT/CREDIT CARDS so if you wish to donate, you can give me cash or even a cheque, whichever is easier, and I will transfer it to the funds for the project :)