*Re-uploaded because the text was not showing up on my blog before*
While in Phuket I had the chance to volunteer at an Elephant Sanctuary.
This was one of the best experiences of my life.
The elephants were incredible. They had such vibrant personalities and they’re incredibly smart! There was one elephant, specifically, who was my favorite because he reminds me of my dog back home. He was just a baby but he was really bad lol He enjoyed playing a lot, kicking (not in a mean way, he’s just playing but doesn’t understand his size) and just wanted to do his own thing. Most of the elephants were very mindful of us humans and seemed to be careful around us, but not this baby boy! He walked right on through and if you were in his way he’d push right pass you. We also witnessed him have a little temper tantrum lol
We fed, played with and bathed the elephants. Although it was amazing, there were some gross parts. Like while playing with them in the pool, the elephant I was petting decided to pee. Not just a tinkle, more like buckets of piss was leaving it’s body…gross. Another elephant casually took a dump as I rubbed mud on it’s back lol
Most people will say “Duh, what’d you expect?” And that’s a valid response, but I really was not prepared to swim in the same water that they piss and poop in. (My fault, I know lol no shame to the elephants)
I picked this place specifically because they do not allow you to ride the elephants. It’s truly a sanctuary for elephants to kick back and peacefully live the rest of their lives! If you didn’t know, elephants are not meant to be ridden and doing so can really harm them.
Elephants are not designed to carry large amounts of weight on their backs. They have actually evolved to carry weight suspended under their spines. An elephants spine has sharp protrusions, “spikes”, that extend upward. The tissue surrounding these “spikes” are very vulnerable to weight and riding them can cause long standing damage to them.
Elephants also have to be trained, like any other animal, to be ridden. The practice is called “phajaan”, basically meaning to “crush the spirit”. In this process a baby elephant is separated from its mother and is tied in a way where they cannot sit, lay down or turn around. The elephants are not fed for days in the beginning of this process and are tortured mercilessly. Elephants who go through this have 2 choices: submit or die.
Anyway, if you’re ever in the area, check out the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary. They aren’t just in Phuket, but in Chiang Mai and Pattaya as well. I would go back to Thailand just to volunteer here, but I don’t think they have extended volunteer programs.. not sure though.
Really an amazing experience! If you’ve done something like this before, let me know your experience!
P.S. Some of the guys who work there are really cute too! Not important, but noticed lol
