Immerse yourself in this lush 90,000-acre rainforest by Living In the Forest with Elephants (LIFE), where rescued elephants roam free. Experience sustainable, ethical tourism and support a community dedicated to conservation.
Situated in over 90,000 acres of luscious protected rainforest near the border between Thailand and Myanmar, Living In the Forest with Elephants (LIFE) is dedicated to preserving the magnificent forest and caring for the rescued elephants that call it home.
The village is small with only around twenty households and it shares a stunning forest with 6 other villages. Without a source of income, people from this village were forced to sell their beloved elephants to the tourism industry. Thanks to the project the captive elephants have now been returned, roaming freely through the forests being checked on by their mahouts once a week or daily if they feel the need.
The Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), also known as the Asiatic elephant, is a species of elephant distributed throughout the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, from India in the west, Nepal in the north, Sumatra in the south, and to Borneo in the east (Wikipedia). The Asian elephant is the largest living land animal in Asia, and one of only three living species worldwide.
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1986, the Asian elephant population has declined by at least 50 per cent over the last three elephant generations. It is primarily threatened by loss of habitat, habitat degradation, fragmentation and poaching.
In Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia, it is common to find elephant riding experiences at tourist hotspots. Such trips are listed on prestigious travel websites and images of global tourists taking part are ubiquitous on social media. Sadly, this form of tourism encourages both animal cruelty and wildlife crime, which, in tandem with other factors, is driving the Asian elephant towards extinction.
Visitors to Wildlife Heritage Areas can take part in outstanding wildlife watching experiences that put wildlife first. Staying in a Wildlife Heritage Area helps local communities invest in animal welfare and wildlife conservation, benefitting community well-being and driving forward sustainable practices.
Communities achieve Wildlife Heritage Area designation by playing a central role in protecting wild animals and their habitats. With support from responsible travel organisations and wildlife experts, these communities are committed to help turn the tide on biodiversity loss and the climate crisis, adopt a zero tolerance for wildlife suffering in tourism, and advocate for positive change through a willingness to collaborate.
Koo Nu returned to his village to settle down with his wife and applied to begin apprenticing as a mahout with the foundation. As his skills have grown, so has his passion for elephant care, conservation, and youth empowerment. Koo Nu came to our leadership team with a dream of starting a mentorship program to provide opportunities for other young people like himself who may...
Living In the Forest With Elephants (LIFE) - a sustainable tourism model LIFE is the foundation’s central project through which we successfully developed a community-based tourism model that is economically sustainable, socially just, and environment and elephant friendly! First started in 2018, LIFE was steadily progressing towards self-sustainablity in 2019 and was a central...
Be welcomed into a Karen community on this 4-day experience in the heart of the jungle near the Thailand-Myanmar border. Living as part of the community, you can see for yourself how your host families live and work, sharing stories and creating lifelong memories.
Karen people are proud of their culture and happily demonstrate their traditional skills such as weaving brightly coloured cloth and basket-making with you. Of course the highlight will be spending time with the elephants, many of which have been rescued from a life of work in trekking camps. Track them through the forest, and learn about their habits and activities from the expert mahouts who will guide you.
Help out a small community with a big heart to protect priceless elephant habitat. Make a difference on a 6-day volunteering trip at our LIFE project. A key focus of LIFE is the community and helping them to protect both their elephants and the elephant’s natural habitat – 90,000 acres of pristine cloud forest.
On this trip you will have the opportunity to hike into the forest to observe the elephants living and roaming freely, from a safe and respectful distance, all the while learning about them from the people that understand them best – the mahouts! You will also assist with much needed projects throughout the community.
Embark on an unforgettable retreat experience. In the enchanting forests of Northern Thailand ancient traditions, breath taking landscapes, and transformative experiences await. This unique journey combines the exploration of indigenous cultures, close encounters with majestic elephants in their natural habitat, and the practice of mindfulness and breathwork.
Course Information Asian Elephants in Context: Animal Behaviour and Conservation in Thailand is a 4 week field course that offers university students the opportunity to join an ongoing research project studying the behavior and ecology of re-wilded Asian elephants in their natural habitat. By promoting a multispecies approach to conservation, this course not only improves outcomes for animals and the environment, but also recognizes the interconnectedness of human health and well-being.
