The Thailand Study Abroad scholarship that I received from SPC was the best gift I could ask for. I work two jobs in a clinic and I am a bartender and even with these jobs I would not have been able to make my dream to work with elephants possible. I go from job to job and never get a day off. There is no thank you good enough to express my gratitude.

Before my study abroad program I never traveled overseas so this was a first for me. I have never been in conditions such as no air conditioning or no hot water, it has made me so grateful for what we have in the United States. There are so many things that we Americans take for granted, that the people of Thailand go without every day. I also have never been away from my family for more than a couple days and I was able to be without them for almost 2 weeks. This trip was more than working with elephants for me, it was a character builder. I learned to deal with situations that I have never had to deal with before. During my trip I got very sick and I had to learn how to take care of myself and also my room mates.

Now for the elephants, they are more beautiful and magical in person than in pictures and at the zoo. I go to feed them watch them in their nature habitat. I learned their different personalities. They showed me how much family means to them. For instance the Mom, and two aunts, they made sure baby Pin was always safe and they would not let no harm come to her. Elephants have a great memory, they knew where to be at what time of day, and they would always meet us at the meeting spot for their feedings. I will never forget my time I spent with them.

I think that everyone should experience a study aboard. This is not only an experience to remember but it builds you as a person. It makes you a stronger you. There is no thank you good enough for the gift I had been given. It will always be in my heart and thoughts. I will tell everyone about my experience.

At WFFT they made enrichments for the elephants that went out into the enclosures at the end of the day so that they would have something to do for fun when no one was interacting with them. The definition of enrichment is an animal husbandry principle that seeks to enhance the quality of captive animal care by identifying and providing the environmental stimuli necessary for optimal psychological and physiological well-being. In the mornings we would cut up the fruit that the enrichments were made out of such as, watermelon, pineapple, corn and papaya. We would take banana trees and cut them very fine like string and put fruit on each end. After all the fruit was tied together we would go into the enclosure and throw them into the trees up high so that the elephants would have to go searching for them. Another enrichment that we would make was with a bag from the elephant pellets. We would fill the bags with compost, fruit and corn. We would also hide the bags in the enclosure. The elephants each had their own way of opening the goody bag such as throwing it up and down or stomping/kicking the bag till it would opened. I think that the enrichment is very important for the elephants. This helps with exercise, mental activity, feeding, and it is something that the elephants enjoy searching for! I enjoyed making the different types of enrichment for them, and I especially like hiding them in their enclosure and waiting and watching to see how long it would take them so find. The only issue that we had when cutting the fruit early in the mornings was that a lot of the fruit was eaten by wild dogs that made their way into the refuge. They were so hungry that they ate their fruits and veggies!

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.

During my Thailand Veterinary Technology study abroad program at WFFT I spent most of my time at the area called Newlands. At New lands there was 5 elephants See Puak, Nam Phon, Duen Phen, Som Boon and Khan Kluey. See Puak, Nam Phon, Duen Phen all were kept in the same enclosure and Som Boon and Khan Kluey were in a different area. Our mornings started at 6:30 and at that time we met at the volunteer house where we met with our groups. Once we were in our groups we went and collected our fruits for the elephants, next we went to the fruit washing station were we washed the fruit in water mixed potassium for 10 minutes. After the fruit soaked for 10 minutes we than rinsed the fruit, then separated it in different baskets. In the mornings the elephants at all areas of the foundation are fed bananas balls which are made from bananas, brand, and pellets. Som Boon and Khan Kluey were fed first, we were not able to touch either one because Khan Kluey is a bull elephant and is very dangerous. How we fed them was by the mahuts “the elephant caretakers” would distract them and we would place the banana balls on the cement walls fast and get away from the wall as fast as possible so that no one would get hurt. Next we would jump on the truck with the other elephants banana balls See Puak, Nam Phon, Duen Phen. These three girls we were able to feed and touch as long as the mahuts were right there. These ladies were my absolute favorites. It was amazing to me that they knew where to be at what time of day, they would always meet us at the meeting spot. After all the elephants were fed their breakfast we would get back on the truck and throw bananas tree chunks into their enclosure. Morning work was complete.

Click here to to learn more about programs similar to the Thailand Veterinary Technology study abroad program.