Ao Nang Sanctuary: Ethical Elephant Care In Thailand

Visiting an elephant sanctuary like Ao Nang Sanctuary is a joyful experience, but have you ever thought about their routine before you enter? What happens behind that wholesome greenery where elephants live their ideal life? 

How do they start their day there? How does the staff manage these giant and cute creatures? In this article, we’ll give you a few glimpses of a day in the life of an elephant at the Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary. Let’s get started!

The Amazing Life Of Elephants At Elephant Sanctuary

• Morning – Their day starts at 7:00 in the morning, when Level 1 or 2 mahouts check out on elephants in the morning in their shelters. The checkouts include elephants’ grooming, mental and physical health, as the mahouts need to call for the medical team if they perceive any unusual behavior in the elephant.
• Breakfast – After the checkup, the mahouts take their assigned elephants carefully to the sanctuary, where they feed them breakfast at 8:15 am.
• Morning Tour – The Ao Nang elephant sanctuary opens for visitors from 9:00 onwards, where they can socialize with elephants during their morning tour. Mahouts are vigilant and careful now, as they have to take care of the elephants during the tour that ends at 12:00 pm.
• Resting Time – At 1:00 PM, it’s quiet time at the sanctuary. Mahouts take a break, and the elephants are left to relax without tourist interaction. They’re free to eat more if they wish or cool off in the pool—especially on hot summer days—by simply lying down and enjoying the water at their own pace.
• Afternoon Tour – 02:00 pm is the time for the elephants’ second tour of the day, the afternoon tour that will last till 05:00 pm. In both tours, elephants interact with people who visit them from every corner of the world. Mahouts play a vital role here by maintaining a friendly time between the elephant and the visitors. However, the elephants are well-trained by their mahouts to behave according to safety and welfare standards. But still, for proper assurance, they are always present there so that the elephant and people can interact without hesitation.
• Time for the Exercise – At 05:00 pm, Ao Nang Sanctuary closes to the visitors as it is time to do the elephant workout. The exercise is important for these giant fellas as it helps them to balance their physical and mental health. The one-hour exercise session conducted under the supervision of the mahouts also prevents them from the potential risk of life-threatening diseases.
• Back to The shelter – After spending a wholesome day at the sanctuary, all the elephants get back to their familiar shelters where their mahouts feed them their dinner. A small physical and mental inspection is conducted to check if the elephant has any injuries during the tours. They also check if they show any signs of discomfort that might cause illness. 

That is how elephants spend their day in the Ao Nang sanctuary, which is their regular schedule for good well-being. We are 100% dedicated to the future of this animal, as it is in our roots that show how vibrant elephants are in Thai culture.

Elephants: The Core Of Thai Culture

Elephants are important in Thai culture; they are embedded in the traditions, religion, and identity we carry to date. We respect them for their strength, wisdom, and good luck, and white elephants are especially valued as symbols of royalty. This importance appears in many parts of Thai life, including art, literature, and everyday customs.

The Crucial Part Of Ao Nang Sanctuary In Elephant Welfare

Ao Nang Sanctuary for Elephant Welfare has a perfect setup for caring for elephants. The sanctuary has mahouts who dedicate themselves to love, adore, and care for the elephant in the best way possible. 

We have 1 to 4 levels of mahouts who have their work according to their expertise. Level 1 and 2 mahouts work closely with the elephants, while on the other hand, level 3 mahouts are the team of veterans, and level 4 mahouts are the chief mahouts who manage and coordinate all the other staff and mahouts. They contact the management and health teams directly. Besides, they are the lead staff of the elephant sanctuary.

Educational Programs By The Sanctuary

Education is the key to raising awareness about elephant conservation and promoting sustainable practices that save their natural habitat. Ao Nang Elephant Sanctuary conducts educational programs for visitors, schools, and local communities so they can learn about them better and clearly. 

These programs talk about elephant biology, ecology, and the necessity to protect their habitats. People can take action and help care for elephants and their ecosystems when they understand more. We should not forget that they are a crucial part of our ecosystem; hence, they are named the engineers of the ecosystem. 

Ways To Support Elephant Conservation

You can support elephant protection in several ways, like donating to elephant welfare, volunteering, or advocating for elephant rights. By supporting the reputable elephants, you will help them to save thousands of elephants who need shelter, food, and medical assistance. Social media is a great way these days to promote anything that reaches its targeted audience. Hence, you can contribute to elephant care in Thailand in several ways.

Elephant Conservation Challenges 

Elephants have significant problems in the wild, and people killing them for their ivory tusks is the topmost. Some people want to buy it because the starting price of their ivory tusk is an outstanding amount of dollars. Elephants also face challenges in the forest due to climate change, which limits their water and food sources. It is not hidden which creature is causing these sudden and heavy climate changes. 

How Can We Help Elephant Welfare?

To help elephants, we need to make better rules and work with the community to care for the land. As elaborated above, we must spread awareness about elephants and other creatures on Earth suffering because of human greed. We need to tell people how illegal elephant killing happens and what the biggest reason for it is. We shall protect their lands and the torture that they have been facing in many countries.

Ao Nang Sanctuary’s Mission To Save Elephants

Ao Nang Sanctuary believes in sustainability and providing elephants with the ethical life they deserve. We will continue doing it and request people to do the same by any means, and even a small gesture towards our giant fellas will be great. Our sanctuary has rescued animals who were suffering due to various reasons and were exploited because of their ethical lifestyle. We mentioned our ways to protect them from harm and requested people to at least avoid the unethical ways of elephant tourism. 

Moreover, the cruelty towards them rises more when people purchase products that are made out of elephant teeth. It is not only about elephants but also about other animals and creatures. Let’s devote ourselves to saving elephants with compassion, respect, and dedication to building a brighter future for all living beings on Earth. You can experience the love and friendly behavior of the elephant at our sanctuary. We promise you won’t forget that thrill and experience in your life.

Reserve your spot now to get a chance to meet Asian elephants!

• Phone: +66 65 390 9925
• Email: [email protected]
• Book directly at aonangelephantsanctuary.com