CARE FOR ELEPHANTS IN AN ELEPHANT SANCTUARY IN WANG THONG IN THAILAND

WORK CONTENT AND DESCRIPTION

The Elephant centre aims to offer wild elephants a safe and secure environment to inhabit. It does this by replicating as close as possible the natural environment for the elephants.

Assisting on this project will include being able to spend time and bond with the elephants. You'll work hands-on with the elephants, swim with them, and clean them on a daily basis.

You'll also help with food preparation for the elephants, which typically comes in the form of banana-grass, sugarcane and banana plants.

A lot of your time will be spent alongside experienced mahouts, who spend their entire lives gaining an understanding of the elephants and how best to care for them.

As a volunteer here, the concept is very much that you will work for the elephant's wellbeing and not the other way round. With the number of elephants shrinking steadily, as wild elephants need to compete with villagers for land. In partnership with the Elephant Conservation (Asia) the centre aims to increase the Thai elephant population, and has seen the successful birth of 12 elephant calves at the centre.

The project is located in a rural setting in north eastern Thailand: a beautiful and peaceful setting to see the elephants enjoy their natural habitat.

EXAMPLE SCHEDULE*:

Monday to Friday:
During this week, you’ll be able to help the mahouts in our partner elephant camp as they take care of the elephants. You will leave early morning from the accommodation for the Elephant centre nearby where you will be in close contact with the elephants throughout the day, returning late afternoon.

You will learn about the history of the elephants in Thailand and learn basic knowledge of elephant care and safety.

Daily responsibilities include washing and feeding the elephants, cleaning the camp, going into the forest with the elephants and getting involved in health check ups - and, of course, hands-on work with the elephants!

Weekends:
Weekends are always free time. Due to the remote location, most volunteers tend to stay and enjoy their immediate surroundings. For those who want to explore further afield however, there are a number of waterfalls not too far away including Poy Waterfall and Kaeng Song Waterfall.

**Please note; This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.**

ACCOMMODATION

Accommodation is provided in a spacious resort which will be shared with other volunteers (2-4 per room). If you'd like a single room to yourself, there will be a small supplement.

Hot showers, bathroom, air conditioning are provided.

The accommodation is in a spacious, idyllic, bamboo bungalow which also has a comfortable decking.

Also on site is a swimming pool and gymnasium, perfect for cooling down and relaxing after a day with the elephants!

FOOD:
Food is included during your stay. The meals will be of typical Thai origin, including plenty of rice dishes. Three healthy and delicious meals will be provided each day, carefully balancing Thai food for the Western tongue.

Vegetarians and vegans can also be catered for.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Got any questions? Please email us: info@travellersworldwide.com

THE PROJECT AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:
Wang Thong Elephants Project was established 1999. Before the elephants were rescued, they were forced to walk the streets in heavily populated areas (cities and towns) as a means to raise money. The money would be used for food, such as bananas and sugarcane, the cost of which per elephant works out very expensive per day.

The Sanctuary aims to:

• Help the homeless elephants to be comfortable
• To retain the elephant's dignity
• To aid Elephant Conservation (Asia), in which Thailand is a partner.
• To increase the Thai elephant population (which has seen a successful increase).

We’ve had 12 elephant calf births within our area, a 5-year string since 2006 to May 12, 2011. The Project has been allocated specific areas for elephants to live independently, which the mahouts are closely monitoring. This area is large enough for a herd of elephants in the midst of natural habitat.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BOOK YOUR PLACEMENT?
Once you have applied for a placement, we'll contact you and send you our Welcome Pack. You'll also receive Log-on details and password for our Volunteer Extranet where you'll have access to all the documentation and information which we've put together to facilitate preparations for your adventure! Your Project Co-ordinator for your country will liaise with you throughout the arrangements process, as well as while you're on your placement and on your return home.

The documents you'll have access to also include a Country Factfile, Safety Guide and any manuals that may assist you on your particular programme (e.g. Teaching Guide, Sports Manuals, Enrichment Suggestions for Animal Care, etc.). We do all we can to make your stay one that you'll never forget. This is a truly awesome, elegant and beautiful country.

On Your Arrival: When you arrive at Bangkok Airport, you'll be met by our Thailand Organiser and taken to a hotel to stay overnight. The following day he'll pick you up and take you to the bus station for the bus to the Singburi base.

At Singburi you'll be met by the Project staff and taken to the project site. You'll have an English speaking Thai co-ordinator present with you throughout your stay. ATM and amenities can be found in close proximity to the project location.

On arrival there you'll be introduced to all the other volunteers and the local project team. Then you get to meet the elephants! Your adventure has begun :-)

OPTIONAL ADD-ON ACTIVITIES:

Make the most of your time there! To help you do that, we've put together some exciting activities, courses and tours that you can add to your itinerary. These are designed to be fun, but also to enable you to learn, and expand your personal and professional development enjoyment ... but mostly for your enjoyment! :-)

Terms and Conditions apply for Add-Ons, please see here.

SEE ALL PROJECTS IN THAILAND info@travellersworldwide.com

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LOCATION | SIGHTSEEING:

LOCATION:
This location is rural north eastern Thailand: a beautiful and peaceful setting to see the elephants enjoy their natural habitat. During this programme, due to the nature of the resort and what it has to offer, most people tend to stay and enjoy their immediate surroundings. For those who want to explore further afield, however, there are a number of waterfalls not too far away, including Poy Waterfall (9km) and Kaeng Song Waterfall (19km).

ABOUT BANGKOK:
Bangkok is not for the faint hearted! This is South East Asia’s largest, most frenetic, over polluted, traffic congested capital city. But don’t let that put you off! This will all become part of the charm.

By day and night, Bangkok is fast paced - this is a city for indulgence and fun, with action at all hours. One of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of this country is to live and breathe it:

• Visit the traditional floating markets on the outskirts of Bangkok, where traders sell their wares from wooden boats, weighed down by kilos of bananas and other exotic fruits as garlands of jasmine hang off the boats stern.
• Walk through China Town early in the morning and watch stall owners carry boxes of merchandise that tower over them, weighing two or three times their body weight.
• Snack on some fresh pineapple or watermelon carefully sliced by a roadside vendor as you soak in the sights and smells of the city before the midday heat encourages you inside to air conditioned safety.
• Watch tuk tuk’s laden with people screech past, weaving in and out of traffic.
• Enjoy some freshly cooked Pad Thai from a street vendor. This is a mixture of noodles and bean sprouts stir fried with an egg and served with a generous portion of chilli sauce, or for the brave, a heaping of additional dried chilli.
• Take in sunset from a river cruise and marvel at Bangkok’s diverse skyline, from modern gleaming skyscrapers to the pointed gold roof’s of glittering temples.
• Visit the Grand Palace, a decadent spectacle which used to be residence to the King of Thailand and now has a temple for the Emerald Buddha.

The grand palace is one of the most striking pieces of art in Thailand, with gargoyles, dragons and warriors incredibly re-constructed in glittering mosaics.

TRAVEL:

Read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country.

Coming soon!