While working with elephants in Thailand, the afternoon was a very enjoyful part of the day. During this time we would cut up fruit for the elephants when the tourist would come and we also made enrichment at this time as well. The Tourists ate lunch at the same time we did, when we were preparing the fruit for them to be able to feed See Puak, Nam Phon, Duen Phen they were meeting all of the other elephants on the property and learning their history. During the tourists day at the elephant refuge center they learn about all of the abuse elephants face by being tourist attractions by being rode and also being forced to work and carry very heavy objects. Once they have learned the history they get to enjoy a nice ride to Newland where I was stationed and they got to meet See Puak, Nam Phon, Duen Phen. We would give the tourist buckets full of fruit so they were able to feed them. Also during this time the Mahuts threw fruits and some corn into the pond and get the elephants to swim. That was one of my favorite things to watch during my time at WFFT. It was very magical to watch them swim and get the fruit with their trunks, I could sit there for hours and watch them if I was allowed. Once the Tourists fed the girls they followed or met us at Som Boon and Khan Kluey’s enclosure where they were only allowed to stay in the truck and watch us place fruit along the enclosure walls and watch Khan Kluey go for a swim as well. It was really funny watching Khan Kluey face dive into his pond face first after the corn that was being thrown into it. I think that it is great to have tourists be able to see elephants not being used for entertainment and to just be able to watch and enjoy them for they magical creatures they are.

The opportunity of working with Elephants in Thailand was granted by the St. Petersburg College Study Abroad Veterinary Technology program. To learn more about other Study Abroad programs click here.