Introduction

The amount of forest in Thailand has decreased due to deforestation. With logging virtually banned in Thailand in the forests there is no longer much work for the domestic elephant which had been their main occupation for many years.

The elephant eats up to 100-200kg of food a day and this must be provided by her mahout, whose traditional occupation is to take care of their elephant. They live around 60-70 years so they must be cared for throughout the mahouts life and the elephant needs support if anything happens to him. Without forests there is less wild food available and the mahouts need to find another source of income in order to take care of their elephant and family.

Some mahouts bring their elephant to big cities like Bangkok and try to make money from tourists by begging on the street. However, the Bangkok streets are dangerous for elephants because of the numerous cars. Also in the city it is not always easy to find enough food everyday. Elephants can also damage the roads and can be dangerous towards citizens. Their mahouts are not always friendly, as some elephants are being kept under horrible circumstances.  They are jabbed with knives and spears, overworked and overdosed on amphetamines to increase their stamina.

About Project

In Thailand there are several projects that still need volunteers to help in the management of elephants is more about Chiang Mai, Lampang, Chiang Rai, Ayutthaya, Phuket, Surin, Buriram to help try to find better methods and mahout The additional cost in management such as drug costs for transporting the food. Or maintenance of residential buildings elephants.

We started this program for the care of volunteer first elephant in eastern Thailand. When 4-year ago the project with the name "The elephant mahout project" (click). The elephants problems can only solved through the improvrment in the mahout income status, as well as the elephant habitat and welfare. We begin training camp in the mahout to create understanding and nurture a love of elephants over the comments with the benefit of the money alone. Including environmental management within the elephant camp. And we changed the name of project to The Elephant and Mahout Friendly Project in 2008, and now we continue to work quietly project. which many people will not hear or know. However, we feel satisfied in what we do. And now the beginning of elephant camp in Pattaya trying to do like us. We hope that there may be a good thing for the future of Thai elephants.

The Program

The Elephant and Mahout Friendly Project provides volunteer with a great experience opportunity to work and get a basic understanding of the Thailand mahout and the older female elephants relationship with our mahout community program. You will be the care and feeding elephants, elephant bathing, take older female elephant walk camp around, and cleanliness in the area. Then learn how to ride elephants through forests and around the camp. As well as learn about different techniques elephants.

You will not only learn how to ride your elephant but also how to care for it and management including safe living environment in femal elephants and their mahout families within elephants camp. During your stay you will build up a bond with your elephant. You can learn about. the life of the mahouts and joining in with various communal activities. and if the volunteers associated with leisure time.

The Elephant and Mahout Friendly Project has been developed in order to help the femal elephants and mahouts who live around pattaya. By means of creating jobs and providing financial support we hope that they can stay together at the camp forever and may have the opportunity for an easy and pleasant future.

This project is a non-profit, because our company want all volunteers and visitors have the opportunity to participate in the project elephant mahout guides and training programs. We always welcome volunteers and day visitors to bring in more revenue for the elephants and mahouts. A project that is in the progress of the settings you have to learn all about the life and History of Asian elephants.

The project is situated in a very quiet area outside Pattaya city. It is cut off from the roads so that the elephants have a spacious area where they can eat, bathe and relax. Currently there are about 12 domestic elephants living here together with their mahouts. The elephants here are treated like friends and have been trained well by their mahouts. The elephants go for short walks with tourists that visit the park, who in this way, can financially support the mahouts and the elephants.

Daily responsibilities

Although every day can be different, there are several jobs that need to be done every day. These include feeding the elephants, bathing, observing the elephants to check their condition and cleaning the elephants area and dishes. When required, you are also requested to support with any other tasks that need to be done eg. updating this website, responding to emails etc.

Normal daily schedule

06.00 -07.30 AM: Early in the morning we will go to the forest with the mahout for take their elephants back from the forest and take a shower, prepare food and water also cleaning around the area.
07.30 -08.30 AM: Breakfast at Volunteer Hut.
09.00 AM: Elephant friendly time: You will learn about the day to day life of the elephant and her mahout. You will learn how take care your elephant, including feeding, cleaning her area and giving her a shower. During your stay you will learn how to lead your elephant, how to get on and off and how to ride her. You will learn to understand your elephant and what commands to give her. When necessary you should also be prepared to discuss the history and goals of the project and to talk knowledgably about the Thai domestic elephants to visiting tourists. We believe that education of the public is an invaluable part of the elephant mahout project in order to raise awareness of the problem. Then we are to help out with Vegetables Gardening and centre activities and take care other animals in camp

12.00 AM: Lunch

13.00-15.00 PM: After lunch we will take the elephants for Feeding and showering your elephant and keeping its living area tidy, general maintenance of camp. Optional activities. We will go to teach and practice English to local school children's. For childent they needs help finding fluent English speakers so that the students may have the opportunity to learn in the best way possible. The curriculum is very open ended and as it does not require certification, the volunteer has a great deal of flexibility in devising lesson plans. These children's education, particularly in English, will give them a great deal more opportunities in the future to better their circumstances, and they are always excited to have new foreign teachers, which gives them good opportunities for future jobs. And /trips also available These include visits local temples, and markets and learning traditional Thai crafts.,

16.00-18.00 PM. personal time, you can relax in this period.

*Typically you will work from Monday to Friday. In the Saturday we will be working only half days. After that everyone can enjoy the rest. Or travel to various locations in the satisfaction of their own. You can sit at the holiday island boats million Which is not too far from pattaya beach or get together with new your friends, etc. as their own satisfaction.

At the end of this project, you will receive a document which provides certification of your skills as an elephant mahout. The project has been developed in order to help the older female elephants and mahouts who live at this park. By means of creating jobs and providing financial support we hope that they can stay together at the camp forever and may have the opportunity for an easy and pleasant future.

Remark: Some night after dinner, the volunteer will take a local car or truck to cut pineapple for elephant food which is not far way from elephant camp. This is very imporatnt when you stay in the elephant friendly project, please do follow the advisors. If you would like to know anything or go to somewhere, please inform us before because we come from different cultures and there could be some miscommunication

• Activities during the day can vary but a few daily activities are standard :
  - Early wake up, around 6.30
  - Clean area and prepare food for the elephant
  - After breakfast training with the elephant
  - At lunchtime prepare food again for the elephant.
  - Optional English teaching to mahouts
  - Bathing, training with elephant
  - Optional Thai cooking in the evening

• Building, and maintaining vegetable garden

• Landscaping and Reforestation

• Constructing shelters for the elephants

• Contribute to fundraising efforts

Accommodation

Accommodation is very comfortable. You will stay in Green Jomtien studiost near the beach, a fully furnished resort 1km. away from the project. Included is air-conditioning, hot water and TV. You will share the room with another volunteer. 

Food

You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 2 times a day. In the morning, bread and jam are also available. Sometimes you are requested to support with the cooking. Cold water, tea and coffee are free during the diners. Soft drinks and water can be purchased in a local shop at the project. 

How can I get to the Elephant and Mahout Friendly Project ?

The cheapest way in to take a bus from Ekamai Bus station in Bangkok. Busses run very regularly. You can also book a ticket for a minivan transfer to Pattaya. Tickets can be purchased at any hotel or travel agency. In Pattaya you need to be meeting real experience staff at Thaithong elephant camp ’s for checking in . 

In Sriracha office for checking in .

The Head office address is : 328/19 Moo 8, Surasak. Sriracha. Chonburi 20110. 
Please give us a ring if you cannot find us and we will pick you up in Sriracha or Pattaya . If there is no answer on the above phone number, then please call 038 775349

** Please be sure to contact us when you arrive in Bangkok to confirm your arrival details to Sriracha or Pattaya .

Requirements

 If you want to join this challenging program, you have to meet a few basic rules:  

• Minimum age of 17 years

• Besides working together with the elephant and Mahout, you are also expected to support with general activities like cooking and cleaning.

• minimum stay of 1 week

• maximum stay 8 week

• A normal level of fitness

• You need to respect the Thai culture, be open-minded and have a friendly attitude towards the local people.

Participation Fee is 387 Euro per week

The Project includes:

• All fees for participating in the the volunteer friendly Project

• resort or volunteer bamboo hut.

• All meals on weekdays, coffee, tea and water during the meals (Breakfast and Lunch ). On Sundays only breakfast. There is a wide variety of places to eat cheaply nearby for dinner on these days.

• English speaking guide and supervision

• Transportation from project to another community development/ building activities program.

Not included in the price:  .

• Passport / visa fees

• Travel expenses within Thailand

• Travel, Cancellation and Health Insurance (all participants must be in possession of proof of cover for all of these)

• Personal expenses i.e. laundry bills, telephone bills, souvenirs, internet, etc.  

What to bring

• Long sleeved tops/shirts and long trousers. Elephants have rough skin and you may be more comfortable in long trousers whilst riding. There are some mosquitos around the camp and long sleeves and trousers will protect you from them in the evenings. If you are coming in the dry, windy season November to February, please bring a warm jacket.

• If you would like to bring something to donate to the children at the local school, 5-12yrs of age, things for educational or sporting purposes muchly appreciated, school is from May to November.

• Shorts and T shirts for everyday wear.

• Lightweight rain coat or poncho for the rainy season.

• Shoes for every day use that can be easily slipped on and off 

• Camera/ Video recorder (Remember to pack your rechargers!!)

• Long sleeved tops/shirts for walking in the forest.

• Long trousers for forest and evenings.

• Cropped trousers and T shirts for every day wear.

• Lightweight rain coat or poncho for the rainy season.

• Shoes for every day use that can be easily slipped on and off

N.B: It is the Thai custom to remove shoes before entering most shops and buildings!

• Camera/ Video recorder (Remember to pack your rechargers!!)
  Ordinary batteries can be bought in the local town.

• Favourite toiletries. Toiletries are available in the local town but they may not be the brands you are used to.For ladies requiring internal sanitary protection, these are not easily available and should be brought with you. Sanitary pads can be bought in the local town quite easily.

• Current Medications.

• Mosquito repellent.

• Sun cream and after sun.

• A love of animals and a spirit of adventure!!!!