From Chains to Freedom: A sanctuary redefines elephant tourism

As the morning sun filters through the forest in a quiet corner of Phitsanulok province, four female elephants, each accompanied by her caregiver, walk slowly toward their feeding stations.

This is not a performance but an observation of a natural, daily routine.

Visitors watch as the elephants use their trunks to carefully investigate prepared bundles of fruit and grass, pulling apart woven ropes and spinning-wheel feeders designed to make them work for their food. Breakfast here isn't a show; it’s a happy, enriching moment for everyone involved.

Guests enjoy a peaceful breakfast nearby as the elephants feast on specially-prepared meals.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

Welcome to Elephant Forest Phitsanulok, a recently opened sanctuary where the well-being and happiness of these magnificent creatures are as important as those of the humans who visit.

This 900-rai (about 355 acres) forest is a true sanctuary, free from the heavy chains of a past life. Here, the elephants no longer perform for tourists, carry people on their backs, or work in the logging industry.

Their only job is to simply live their lives, and in doing so, they demonstrate to visitors what truly ethical tourism feels like.

A new beginning for Si-bua

Each elephant in this forest has a story of hardship and resilience. For 50-year-old Si-bua, her tale is etched into her body. A hind leg is deformed from an accident during her logging days, and scars on her forehead are a reminder of humans who once forced her to work faster.

When she first arrived at the sanctuary a few years ago, she was withdrawn, rarely moving her ears or tail, and she never made a sound.

“Si-bua was depressed when she first arrived,” says Siraarpa Siriviriyakul, director of the Sappraiwan Elephant Foundation, which founded Elephant Forest Phitsanulok.

Siraarpa Siriviriyakul, director of the Sappraiwan Elephant Foundation, is the visionary behind Elephant Forest Phitsanulok.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

“The sanctuary gave her time, and bit by bit, she has come out of her depression. She even cried with joy while she was swimming.”

This healing process is at the heart of the sanctuary’s mission, and it’s a journey made possible through collaboration. Siraarpa’s foundation joined World Animal

Protection’s (WAP) “Build Back Better for Elephants” initiative after the COVID-19 pandemic. The partnership provided crucial funding to develop sustainable food plots and install a solar-powered water system, helping the park reduce its reliance on external resources and successfully shift away from exploitative tourism activities.

Walking the elephant's path

Visitors follow a safe distance behind the elephants on a “Walking with Elephants” activity through the forest.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

The ethical experience extends beyond breakfast. Following the pachyderms on their usual trails, visitors can join in a “walk with elephants” activity. The rule is simple and clear: keep a respectful distance of about four meters.

Photo: Sixty-year-old Kamrai, a rescued elephant, peacefully enjoys her morning meal.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

The journey includes a stop to make “seed balls” for reforestation and a “bamboo cooking” station. Visitors also get to create “elephant sushi balls”—large rice balls made from prepared ingredients that serve as a special treat.

There is no worry about overfeeding the elephants, as each one eats around 250 kilograms of food per day.

This approach proves that animal welfare and a sustainable income can and do co-exist. It’s a fundamental shift in philosophy, moving away from “bringing elephants to people” to “taking people to see the elephants in the forests.”

As a result, the role of the mahout has also been redefined, transforming from a “controller” into a “caregiver” who works alongside the elephants with respect and understanding.

The personal well-being of the mahouts also improves, as they work in a stress-free environment and form special relationships with their elephants.

As Roatchana Sungthong, director of WAP Thailand, says, "What we have shown is that improving the welfare of elephants and mahouts can go hand in hand with stable, sustainable income.”

Today, over 13 camps have transitioned with WAP’s support, proving that this model is not only possible but sustainable.

Key partners collaborate to prepare meals for the elephants: (from left) Tricia Croasdell, WAP’s CEO; Roatchana Sungthong, director of WAP Thailand, and Kanchana Silpa-archa, a rescuer and elephant advocate.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

“Thailand is a key location and so strategically important… If we can change it in Thailand, we can make changes around the region,” says Tricia Croasdell, CEO of WAP.

In the sanctuary, elephants are finally free from the heavy chains of a past life.//Photo courtesy of WAP Thailand.

This innovative model provides hope for a more compassionate and sustainable tourism future for not only Thailand but also for the region's elephants.