What pops first into your mind when you think of Thailand?
Many people probably would say Buddhism, temples, spicy food, beaches and elephants. For me, elephants were always the main icon of Thailand. That’s also the main reason why our logo features an elephant.
Despite being an honored and beloved icon, unfortunately, many of these beautiful and majestic animal have been abused for tourism and taken out of their natural habitat.
Luckily, throughout the most recent year, awareness is also rising in Thailand. These days, many newly opening elephant sanctuaries pop up all over the country. One of my favorite ones is the Elephant Haven Sanctuary on my home island in Koh Samui.
A truly sustainable-minded elephant sanctuary is a great home for these giant friends.
OUR PROJECTS
It was a very natural and easy decision for us. We chose to support this sanctuary with our own humble coffee beans the best we can, as well.
On a regular basis, myself and other team members of Siam Hills Coffee visit the elephant sanctuary. We try support in any way we can. Of course, while being there anyway, we also enjoy spending some awesome time with the elephants themselves, too.
There is no greater joy than just seeing them move around freely and enjoying their being.
SAMUI ELEPHANT HAVEN
Maybe, one day, you will also have the opportunity to visit this adorable and beautiful place.
We will already share a bit of information about this remarkable elephant sanctuary with you. So, you might get an idea why we are so happy to have become an essential part of it.
CONCEPT
Samui Elephant Haven provides a sanctuary for rescued elephants. Its home is on the tropical island of Koh Samui, located in the Gulf of Thailand in Southern Thailand.
Mostly, the elephants living here originate from Surin province in Thaiand. They had to endure difficult lives that included logging, elephant riding, street begging and performing in circus shows.
Having been lucky to leave this miserable life behind, these quite fortunate elephants are now part of the sanctuary. And therefore free to express their natural instincts without fear. They are able to joyously interact with each other in beautiful natural surroundings, foraging on native plants and playing together in their custom built pool and mud pit.
I assure you, especially watching them getting dirty in the mud pit is so much fun to witness.
Visitors to this sanctuary are provided with a meaningful encounter with these magnificent animals. You will spend plenty of time in an environment where they are respected and admired.
By choosing to visit an elephant sanctuary such as Samui Elephant Haven, you are supporting an ethical from of elephant tourism. It allows elephants to live in nature with peace and dignity.
SHORT PROGRAM
The elephants are there to walk around freely and you will be there to participate.
There is not much of an itinerary or tour program we can share with you. Basically, you will be introduced to all elephants and their care takers (mahout) upon arrival.
Next, you are learning how to prepare some delicious banana protein snacks for these giants. And you will feed them with an endless stream of bananas after.
After having gotten to know them a bit. And the elephants also having become familiar with you as well. You will be allowed to enter the actual sanctuary and can follow, walk around and watch the elephants up close.
Of course, the elephant care takers will always be with elephants and will ensure the elephant’s safety and your very own.
Armored with more bananas and laughing when observing baby elephants you will follow them around. Watch them them fooling around in the pool and mud pit. You will not even notice how fast time will be passing by.
After a whole morning or afternoon round, your visit will be topped off with a delicious vegetarian food buffet back at the camp’s headquarters.
SHORT HISTORY
Samui Elephant Haven is still rather fresh, if I may say so. It just recently opened in August 2018 with the objective of providing a safe haven for rescued elephants. All of this taking place in a fully sustainable-minded elephant sanctuary.
It is the ‘sister’ project of the equally beautiful and sustainable Samui Elephant Sanctuary. This equally amazing place and is the first ethical elephant sanctuary on my beautiful home island, Koh Samui.
You are also more than welcome to visit this sanctuary as well of course.
The two projects find their motivation by the common goal of freeing elephants from a hard life working in traditional forms of elephant tourism. Instead, they are aiming to provide a caring home. A truly safe place, where the elephants can recover from the trauma of their past live with peace and dignity.
The main inspiration for this project comes from the work of renowned elephant rights advocate, Khun Sangduen ‘Lek’ Chailert. The famous ‘Saddle Off’ model is the major key part of the Save Elephant Foundation and Asian Elephant Projects. Both Samui sanctuaries are embracing the idea and concept with great passion. It is an important step forward in the evolution in elephant tourism.
SOME ELEPHANTS FOR YOU TO MEET
Now, let’s get to the actual stars of this beautiful elephant sanctuary.
First, there were only three younger elephants but as time is progressing and popularity increasing quickly. Recently, they are acquiring more land, so the elephant herd can grow. Up until a desired total of 20 elephants in a couple of years. This sounds pretty exciting to me.
I am happy to introduce some of the earliest members to you.
Sri Nin
Sri Nin is a female elephant thought to be born in Ranong in Southern Thailand in 1967.
She initially worked in the logging industry until the Thai government banned this kind of work for all elephants in 1989.
Like so many elephants in Thailand, following the ban on logging Sri Nin’s owners decided to put her to work in tourism entertainment industry instead. As a result, she has been carrying around tourists ever since, starting in 1999.
Her former mahout or so-called ‘care taker’ left her blind in her left eye. Because he was using a sling shot to punish her for failing to obey his command. As a result, she has a somewhat nervous disposition and can easily be startled. In case, you will meet her one day, please don’t make any sudden movements around her. Maybe you can keep a bit of a distance when approaching from her back side.
Here, at Samui Elephant Haven, she is now able to enjoy her newfound freedom. Her new care takers surround her with a constant stream of love and dedicated care. She can never have enough, when spending her peaceful days nowadays.
She quickly found her new role and has become the loving nanny to Nong Pech and Moloair. These are two younger elephant members of the herd in the elephant sanctuary.
Moloair
This young friendly guy was born in Tak Province in West Thailand, near the Myanmr border, in 2009.
Sadly, during its very youngest year, she underwent a cruel training. She was forced to perform in an elephant circus in the South of Thailand.
During this time, her mahout stabbed her in her trunk several times. As a result, she has a significant persistent injury to her lower trunk. Therefore and very understandably, she does not like her trunk to be touched.
Finally, in 2016, Moloair was rescued from her nightmarish situation. She found her new home in a project in Surin province. On arrival, she was extremely distressed and cried every day for three months straight.
Luckily, during this time, her soon to be best new friend, Nong Pech, constantly tried to give her comfort. But in the beginning, Moloair continued to push her away. It took many more months until Moloair was finally able to find new trust and accepted Nong Pech as her friend. The special bond between them is growing stronger ever since.
Nong Pech
This youngest fellow is a Samui local like myself. Nong Pech was born on this beautiful tropical island in 2012.
However, soon after, she moved to the Northeast of Thailand. Here, she was forced to walk around for many hours a day. Her purpose was to earn some money in street begging. As you can very well imagine, this is quite a very torturous existence for an elephant.
During this time, she sadly had a terrible accident. Unfortunately, she fell down a drain. It took more than two years for her to fully recover from her injuries. She moved to a project in Surin to find support for her long recovery.
It was in Surin that she met her best friend, Moloair. Although Nong Pech is the younger one of the two, she is the leader and is extremely protective of her friend.
Nong Pech and Moloair are inseparable. Nowadays, they both fill their day with plenty of roaming around at the elephant sanctuary. They will go bathing and playing happily while Sri Nin is overlooking everything. Being the oldest one, she is the most mature one of this little beautiful elephant family.
Please come and get to know them yourself. Maybe you will even meet some more of the newcomers to this amazing herd as well then.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Of course, everything is free of choice and totally up to your own wishes.
In case you would like to support. Places such as the Samui Elephant Haven or also Samui Elephant Sanctuary, already find support by a simple visit of yours.
By just visiting an elephant sanctuary and paying entrance fees instead for elephant riding camps you are already directly helping. It will directly go to all of the supportive people and local community behind it. You can even participate as a volunteer.
These fees, which you and me pay help to provide the best care for all of the elephants. Furthermore, project developments and improvement, community outreach and support, as well as and maybe most importantly educational initiatives.
If you are not able to come by yourself and pay a visit in person. There are still other ways to help and support such as sponsorships of your very own elephant or even donations.
I don’t want to sound too cheesy but by drinking and enjoying our beloved Siam Hills Coffee. You would of course help and support as well. We very much actively and enthusiastically commit ourselves to give and share as much as possible.
Our own motto:
Making money is nice, creating and maintaining a sustainable future for every living being involved is a lot more fun!
Have you ever visited an elephant sanctuary already? What was your impression and where was it?
What other projects would you find exciting to support?
Please share with us as we are always eager and fascinated to learn and grow more.
