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Thailand is world-renowned for its native elephants, but surrounding this is the dark history of severe mistreatment that these animals have faced for decades in the tourism industry. Owners would allow tourists to ride the elephants for days at a time without a break and the elephants were forced to perform tricks for shows. They were even physically hurt to get them to do what the owners want and chained up, forced to live within a 2 metre radius of a tree (as I found out is a present day reality for elephants in rural Laos). Additionally, elephants have been overworked in the logging industry in South-East Asia.
In most parts of Thailand now, elephant sanctuaries have become more ethical and have stopped allowing tourists to ride the elephants but experts have raised concerns that allowing tourists to still wash elephants for that perfect Instagram photo can be just as harmful to them. In the wild, elephants would cover their skin in mud to protect it from the sun and the constant washing that occurs in these ‘sanctuaries’ removes that protective barrier. Additionally, many businesses claim to be sanctuaries but use torturous techniques to make the elephants placid and safe for humans to interact so closely with.
Samui Elephant Sanctuary on the other hand offers educational tours that provide insights into the nature and importance of these majestic giants, with a unique opportunity to feed elephants, walk with them, and observe them from a distance as they forage, socialise, and play in their pool.
The elephants in their care have previously endured a hard life working long hours for the tourist industry or the logging industry; a stark contrast to the dignified, peaceful lives they now enjoy. The goal of Samui Elephant Sanctuary is to provide a happy home in nature for the herd where they are free to express their natural instincts and receive the care and respect they deserve.
You need to book in advance but you don’t need to pay until you get there. It’s 3000 Thai Baht which is around £68, so a little on the expensive side for a backpacker budget but definitely worth the extra money to know that you are supporting the best possible life for these beautiful creatures.
Our half day tour began with an information talk and then we got to try our hand at making elephant sushi! This involved wrapping a banana and coconut rice in a square of banana leaf. Each of the elephants in their care has specific dietary needs so the staff stressed the importance of feeding the right food to the right elephants. It was then time to feed the elephants breakfast!
After we had cleaned up, the elephants had dispersed across their huge enclosure and it was time to have a walk around to meet them all. They told us the life stories of each of them as we got to feed them bananas and then we watched them playing in the pool and giving themselves a mud-bath.
Finally, we were treated to an all-inclusive vegetarian buffet, including fried rice, tofu Pad Thai, stir-fried vegetables and spring rolls. which turned out to be probably the best food I had in Thailand. There was also a pandan and coconut jelly dessert which was definitely worth trying. Water, fizzy drinks and biscuits were also complimentary during our time there. We then made the most of our time in the gift shop at the end knowing that the money would be going to a good cause.
I think it’s so important to spread awareness for the green-washing that can occur in eco-tourism and the reality of supporting these systems. I can’t recommend this sanctuary enough, the staff were just brilliant and we felt so heart-warmed at the end of the day.
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