With time, people are getting more interested in animals and wildlife for tourism. Riding elephants is cruel, and because of this, there are rules of ethical tourism. You can explore the best ethical elephant experiences in different parts of the world, especially Thailand.
We have listed these sanctuaries that provide the best experience without demonstrating elephant rides or any promotion of the sanctuary. These protect the elephants from any harm and provide ethical importance to them.
Ethical elephant sanctuary to visit in 2023
At these sanctuaries, you'll see these majestic wildlife creatures up close. You can see the elephant in various parts of the world, like Asia, Africa, etc. Here, we have focused on the sanctuaries of Indonesia and Thailand.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Bali
The interaction of tourists with elephants is increasing in Indonesia, and many people are also unaware of the cruelty these creatures face. There are some ethical experiences about the elephants that the following sanctuaries are providing in Indonesia.
Mason Elephant Sanctuary Bali
It is an elephant rescue place built in 1997, where many elephants are rescued. These are from Sumatra Island, and they are extremely endangered species. This sanctuary has almost 30 rescued species that are endangered.
You'll have direct contact with the rescued elephant. However, it is the only place in Bali that rescues injured or endangered species. However, to enter this sanctuary, you must pay IDR 2,50,000 as an entry fee.
Elephant Nature Park Chiang Mai
Having the ethical elephant experiences, you can enjoy the wildlife in Chiang Mai, Thailand. It is located at a distance of 65 km from Chiang Mai city. However, it was built in the 1990s to rescue elephants and other animals from all over Thailand.
You can spend your time seeing different elephants in the sanctuary. You'll learn about how they are treated here and their daily routine.
Elephant Nature Park, Thailand
This park is located in Chiang Mai province on the Northern side of Thailand. Enjoy visiting the natural home of the rescued elephants. There are also some other species like buffaloes, birds, cats, and many other animals.
Learn about the daily routine of these elephants along with an expert who will provide information on each thing. You must pay 2500 Baht to enter this place as an entry fee.
Burm & Emily's Elephant Sanctuary
It is located in Chiang Mai, Thailand, providing tourists the best ethical elephant experiences. You can do different activities here, like watching elephants in the forest, preparing their afternoon treats, cleaning areas, etc.
You don't need to be an expert to handle all these things. It is a beautiful place where you can have a breathtaking environment and view while observing the wildlife of elephants.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary near Bangkok
Have some incredible moments at the sanctuary for ethical elephant experiences. There are some wildlife elephant sanctuaries near Bangkok to help you experience the wildlife with rescued creatures. Following are the best ethical experiences near Bangkok for you.
Petchaburi Wildlife Friends Foundation
Tourists visit the wildlife sanctuaries near Bangkok to observe the rescued animals surviving in a wildlife environment freely. These elephants are rescued from the tourist sites and the roads of Bangkok.
In this wildlife foundation, the elephants live freely, unlike their previous conditions. They live on 18 hectares, eating, bathing, and enjoying like a free animal.
Sukhothai Wildlife Friends Foundation
It is a famous wildlife sanctuary built by Lek Chailert in Paklok. The area is about 30 acres, where the rescued elephants relax and enjoy their time. You can view the herds of these majestic creatures, and you can also feed them. You can enjoy visiting the Sukhothai Wildlife Foundation at 3000 THB per head.
Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary
These are the elephants near Bangkok that are rescued from the abuse. Here, they provide elephants a safe home where they can move freely. The rescued elephants can regain their true identity as majestic creatures by living in a wild and secure environment.
It is located at 8 km distance from the Bank Turk in the Sukhothai province. You can visit the place as an overnight stay or can stay for a multi-day tour. Here, you can do activities like helping them to reach the grazing fields or planting vegetation.
Ethical Elephant Sanctuary Koh Samui
There are some ethical elephant sanctuaries in Koh Samui, Thailand. The elephants are rescued from the tourist destination to help them live in a wild environment. It is a rescue and caring home among the best wildlife sanctuaries in Thailand.
Samui Elephant Sanctuary
It is the first wildlife sanctuary in Koh Samui that has been focusing on the rescue of elephants since 2018. It is a place for them to freely walk, socialize, and interact with the wildlife.
The tour price may vary based on various factors, but on average, a half-day tour can cost you 3000 Baht per head. For children, it can cost 1500 Baht per head.
Samui Elephant Haven
It is a beautiful sanctuary in Koh Samui, Thailand, that rescues elephants bearing cruelty in circuses. It is a safe and beautiful place which was built in 2018. The sanctuary has rescued about 18 elephants, among which most are babies.
During your visit here, you can interact with these elephants naturally in the wild environment. Observe them taking a bath and feeding them treats. You can prepare the food for them after watching a video.
Conclusion
There are many ethical elephant experiences that you can enjoy and have fun with by visiting the best wildlife sanctuaries that rescue elephants. Many elephants are rescued from tourism destinations, circuses, or zoos. You can visit and help the sanctuaries as a volunteer to interact with the majestic creatures.