Apply to work with elephants in the wild and at sanctuaries around the world in destinations like Africa and Asia. Volunteering at an elephant conservation program can be a really magical experience where you can care for elephants whilst learning a lot and having a lot of fun.
Best Elephant Conservation Programs
You can join programs in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, India, Nepal, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia and Tanzania.
About Elephants
The elephant is the largest land mammal. There are two elephant species in the world: the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) and the African elephant (Loxodonta africana). Asian elephants inhabit open grasslands, savannas and tropical rainforests. They live in Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Burma, Malaysia.
The African elephant lives in forests and grasslands of central, southern, and eastern Africa. African elephants are larger than their Asian relatives. They also have larger ears. The African elephant can weigh 16,000 pounds. Asian elephants are currently listed as endangered, while African elephants are considered threatened species.
Behavior
Elephants are intelligent social animals. They live in groups called herds. These animals have a matriarchal social structure, the leader of the herd being an older female. Female elephants are very attentive mothers. Males live separately, alone or in bachelor herds. Elephants have keen senses of hearing and smell. Elephants can use low frequency sound waves for communication between them. They also use trumpeting to communicate. Elephants are herbivores. They eat roots, grasses, leaves, fruit, and bark.
Reproduction
For Asian elephants, the gestation period is 20-22 months. Usually one calf is born. Male elephants will reach sexual maturity after 10-14 years, and female elephants after 8-9 years. For African elephants, the gestation lasts 22 months; usually one calf is born. Females reach sexual maturity after 10-11 years, and males after 10-15 years. A baby elephant is called a calf. It weighs about 250 pounds at birth.
African Elephants
African elephants (Loxodonta africana) are the largest land animals on Earth, weighing up to 5,400 kg.
They are slightly larger than Asian elephants and can be identified by their larger ears. As the name tells, African elephants live in Africa, in any habitat with adequate quantities of food and water: tropical forests, savannah areas, deserts and river valleys.
The African elephants are an endangered species. Although they have few natural enemies, these elephants are hunted for their tusks, made of ivory. However, the situation of African elephants is complex because there is overpopulation in some areas and under population in others.
Asian Elephants
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) is also known as the Asiatic elephant or the Indian elephant (a name of its subspecies). It is a member of the Elephantidae family, genus Elephas. It is considered endangered, the Asian elephant population dramatically decreased over the last decades.
The species is found primarily in large parts of Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Indochina and parts of Indonesia.
The Asian elephant is an adaptable animal and can occur in a wide range of habitats, from thick jungles to grassy plains. It is smaller than than African elephant; the easiest way to distinguish the two is that the Asian elephant has smaller ears. The Asian elephant weights 2700-5000 kg (6000-11000 lb.); but females are smaller.
Volunteer with Elephants in Asia
Elephant conservation projects in Asia are extremely rewarding and popular. You can live and work at peaceful sanctuaries for neglected and abused elephants helping to feed and care for them and even bathing them. That’s right – an elephant bath. This could get very, very wet.
Thailand
Although there are elephant sanctuaries located all over Asia, Chiang Mai in northern Thailand is one of the top destinations to visit. In Chiang Mai you can find some of the best elephant sanctuaries in Thailand including incredible places like the Elephant Nature Park which rescuers and rehabilitates elephants, many of which have been abused or used to work in the tourism/logging industry.
Elephants are Thailand’s national symbol and spending some time helping to conserve them in between beach parties, night trains and more beach parties. Thanks to local and volunteer efforts these gentle giants now live natural lives in Chiang Mai Province, an area famous for its traditional elephant keeping communities.
Learn about elephants and contribute directly to improving their lives – because by providing an alternative income for the owners, mahouts (elephant keepers) and local villagers, volunteers like you allow the elephants to be rehabilitated and re-discover their natural instincts.
FAQ
Start dates and duration
Placements are usually available from 1 week to 12 weeks with weekly start dates.
How to apply
It is free to apply. You have the flexibility to choose your start date. Once your application has been accepted you will be provided with a program guide and next steps to securing your placement.