 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
Country: THAILAND
|
|
|
| Go Differently |
19 West Road
Essex
UNITED KINGDOM
CB11 3DS
Phone: +44 (0) 1799 521950
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Program description: |
|
|
The 2-4 week project offers a unique opportunity to get a basic understanding of the Thai domestic elephant and their relationship with their mahout. You will not only learn how to ride your elephant but also how to care for it as well as learning first hand about the traditional life of the mahouts and about the life of local people in this small, traditional village in Isan. You will stay at the same house as the mahout and will join in various communal activities including cooking. At the end of this project, you will receive a document which proves your skills as an elephant mahout from a professional teacher. This is a non-profit making project for Go Differently Ltd. All income generated is handed over to the local people, who will benefit from your participation together with the elephants.
About the Area
Ban Ta Klang Village is an Elephant Village in Eastern Thailand. Currently there are about 200 domestic elephants living here. The villagers earn their living by farming and weaving. They also keep domestic elephants as pets which are sometime used to support them in their activities. The elephants here are treated like friends and have been trained well by their mahouts. Near the village, at Surin, every third weekend of November the famous Elephant Show is held. Many of the magnificent elephants participating in the show are from Ban Tha Klang Village. The show attracts many visitors from every corner of the world.
About the Elephants
The forest in Thailand has decreased considerably due to deforestation and eucalyptus plantations. With less work in the forests, there is less logging work - the main occupation of domestic elephants for many years. As food supplies in the forest also decline, the mahouts need to find another source of income in order to take care of their elephants.
Some bring their elephants to big cities like Bangkok and try to make money from tourists. However, the Bangkok streets are treacherous for elephants because of the numerous cars, not to mention the fact that it is not always easy to find the 200 kg of food each animal needs per day. Elephants can also damage the roads and can be a danger to the local people. Some mahouts take very poor care of their animals and their elephants are kept in awful conditions. They are jabbed with knives and spears, overworked and overdosed on amphetamines to increase their stamina.
The Thai government attempted to solve the problem by banning all elephants from the city however this solution proved to be flawed as several animals died of starvation. Unlikely as it might seem tourism appears to be an answer in order to guarantee a good future for the domestic elephants in Thailand but it needs to be controlled well. At the moment, almost 70% of the baby elephants working in tourism are believed to have been poached from the wild. Poachers often kill the mother in order to get the calf. For the future, the situation is improving, as most national parks with wild elephants are well protected and many programs have been set up in order to ensure the survival of the wild elephant.
The Project
At the village there are about 200 domestic elephants who live together with their mahouts. You will become part of this community for at least 2 weeks. Together with the elephants and the mahouts you will visit the forest in the morning where the elephants can eat. You will also learn how to control the elephant and will clean and wash them during the day. This program has a high educational level, both about domestic elephants and about the Thai culture. You will also be expected to help out with the domestic chores. This gives you another great opportunity and if you like, you can become a master Thai cook! The income generated from the tourists that join this exciting program, is being used for basic needs and food for both the local people and their elephants. By supporting the village through sustainable or ecotourism, the people can earn money in a decent way, instead of performing illegal logging or ‘begging’ in Bangkok for example.
Accommodation
Accommodation is very basic. You will stay at a local house together with the mahout. You will receive a handmade mat to sleep on and clean bedding. If you do not want to sleep on the hard ground, you may want to bring a sleeping bag to put between you and the mat. We will provide you with a mosquito net. Facilities int he village are fairly basic. The bathroom consists of an “Asian” toilet. There are no western showers, but cold clean water is available to wash yourself with.
You will be served a variety of Thai local dishes 3 times a day and sometimes you will be asked to help out with the cooking. If you get hungry in between you can always ask for a snack, which is no problem. Cold water, tea and coffee are freely available, soft drinks and alcohol can be purchased in the village.
Requirements
If you are interested in joining this challenging program, you need to meet a few basic rules:
Minimum age of 20 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 2 weeks
A normal level of fitness, you need to be capable of doing some hiking in a hot climate.
You need to respect the Thai culture, be open-minded and have a social attitude towards the local people.
Included
Advice on transportation from Bangkok to Ban Ta Klang Village (If required we can also guide this)
All fees for participating in the Elephant Mahout Project
Accommodation at the project
All meals and coffee, tea and water during your stay
Supervision
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General program information: |
|
|
Program open to: Everyone
Living arrangements on the program: Home stays (living with local families)
How long does the program last?: 2-4 weeks
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost or price of this program: |
|
|
Please contact us for more details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
