How Thailand’s elephant camps are transitioning to a cruelty-free future

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calder’s Travel email Get Simon Calder’s Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Tourists pay to visit commercialised elephant camps, which are designed as entertainment attractions,” explains Hatai Limprayoonyong, Wildlife Campaign Manager at World Animal Protection Thailand, a leading welfare organisation working to end animal exploitation. Unfortunately, almost all of these elephants experience cruelty and poor welfare conditions at these venues.” open image in gallery The camp allows elephants to live independently Hailing from a family that has worked with and cared for elephants for generations, ChangChill owner, Supakorn Tananseth, allowed visitors to ride and bathe the elephants in his care until World Animal Protection started working with the camp in 2017, guiding its transformation into an operation which puts the elephants’ needs first. The best ethical elephant sanctuaries in Thailand “Tourism can have positive benefits for elephants in Thailand,” says Sam Clark, co-founder and managing director at Experience Travel Group. Doing your research on the camp, booking with a reputable tour operator and asking questions will help this process to continue.” Mahouts Elephant Foundation, Mae Sot open image in gallery Observe elephants playing at Mahouts Elephant Foundation Mahouts Elephant Foundation works in partnership with Karen indigenous communities to develop community-based tourism models for observation-only elephant encounters.