The Surin Project, part of the Save Elephant Foundation, is dedicated to rescuing street begging elephants and restoring their natural habitat. This initiative focuses on reuniting elephants with their families while promoting their welfare away from urban environments. By providing a supportive environment for elephants to thrive, the project also ensures that local mahouts and their families receive sustainable livelihoods. This harmonious balance fosters both the elephants’ well-being and community stability. Visitors can witness the joy of elephants in their natural surroundings, learning about their behavior and the significance of conservation. Join the Surin Project in contributing to the compassionate treatment of elephants and the preservation of their natural lifestyle.
The Surin Project is an inspiring initiative under the Save Elephant Foundation, dedicated to rescuing elephants from life on the streets and helping them return to a natural and fulfilling environment. The project operates in Surin, Thailand, where elephants previously exploited for street begging are rehabilitated. We work to create a sanctuary that allows these majestic beings to bond in family groups, wander free of chains, and engage in natural behaviors. In addition to supporting the elephants, the project empowers local mahouts and their families by providing them with sustainable job opportunities that emphasize ethical tourism and elephant care. Visitors to the Surin Project can engage with these gentle giants, learning about their needs and the importance of conservation while witnessing first-hand their joyful existence in a more natural setting. Through this unique model, the Surin Project helps to protect elephants and promote a culture of respect and care for these remarkable creatures, ensuring a brighter future for both the elephants and the communities that rely on them.
ศูนย์บริบาลช้าง (ท่าตูม, ไทย) - รีวิว - ThailandAgoda.com
Save Elephant Foundation – Surin Project is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking Ban taklang Moo 13 Tambon Krapho, 32120, Thailand
For anyone who would like to go somewhere that will help educate and save the lives of these beautiful animals. Extremely hands on experience in a primative village. No luxury here, but you get used to this lifestyle easily. Exciting to wake up every morning to tend to the elephants in a loving and friendly way. You really bond with the ellies and their “mahouts” “carers”, as you understand their needs and love. Incredible Thai meals are supplied. You will never want to leave.
It is worth going. to be with elephants. touch one. It is an experience.There is plenty of time.yes they need money.yes you will be shown a long movie about the care of the animals.you can pay to take care of elephant babies.you will wash the elephants.I went in 2013 but that is not a choice given in the sub-menu.
My brother and sister-in-law visited Thailand for the first time in Jan-Feb 2018. I’ve lived here for 18 years, she loved elephants, I had never been to Surin’s Ta Klang elephant village, so off we went, all thru Isan. I was not enthralled as we arrived early and took a quick look around. Filthy dirty (and I’m used to not so clean), all elephants we could see were incarcerated on very short chains. The entry fee was not much (I forget exactly), but the advertised 20 min. elephant ride was expensive. I timed it as my sil took the tour. It lasted 7:45 minutes, a quick trip abound the compound concrete lane. The elephant show was about like the one at Nong Nooch at Sattahip (but not nearly as good). It was Friday, and there must have been 2,000 kindergarten, 1-2 graders brought in on buses, and they seemed to have a great time at the show. I’ve never seen so many elephants using their trunks (guided by manhouts) to pick 20 & 100 Baht notes out of spectators outreached hands. Collected a real fortune that day. Sorry, I have no knowledge of the keeping and training of the elephants, but I suspect (after seeing films taken) (w/o knowledge) by NGO groups, that even the ones that spend time here with the elephants, do not have the entire story. After all TiT. This is Thailand !!
I took a tour with volunteer group called “We are Bamboo” this was the best volunteer trip I have ever gone on. We were able to meet and greet the elephants in the village, cut food for them, feed them, walk them, and bathe them in the river. It was a very thrilling experience. The group promotes the rescue of abused or abandoned elephants. Almost everyone in the village had and elephant in their back yard like a pet dog. They were all cared for and well treated.
My husband and I are just nearing the end of our one week stay at the Surin project. We have been volunteering with elephants and staying with a mahout family. We have been traveling for months now and this is the first time I have felt duty bound to write a review. Since arriving at the project we have been treated like family. The elephants we have met are very well treated, the food has been delicious and the week has flown by thanks to the additional activities organised by the project coordinator Mix. We will be very sad to leave but delighted to be taking away such wonderful memories and to have met such wonderful people and creatures!!!!
A lot of work is taking place and will be very good in around 2 years when complete. Lots of elephants to see, Monks creating statues, small musume and a small gift stall, small market near entrence, cost 50 Bhat around £1.25p free for Thai’s. Bit of a trip from Surin around 1 hour,but good if you want to see working elephants, not to sure about the elephant football though.
I stayed for a week with Save the Elephants Surin Project. We fed the elephants, bathed them, walked with them and just hung around them quite a lot too. These elephants are cared for properly but next door is the elephant village where these wonderful beasts are used as a tourist attraction. There are rides and a circus and they are chained up. If you visit here please don’t confuse the 2. None of the chained elephants you will see belong to the Surin Project. If you love these animals as I do then choose the Project not the adventure park. You wont be sorry
I really recommend this project to all animal lovers. It was the best week i‘ve ever had! I will come back again. Thank you for the great experience😍
The mahouts and staff all took good care of us! Through this trip, we learned a lot about elephant history and Thai culture, as well as getting to meet many mahouts and their beloved elephants. Seeing the relationship between them was incredible. Our highlight was definitely the walks because we loved bathing the elephants. We would advise (if doing the one week or more stay) to upgrade to the nearby homestay where there’s a hot shower and A/C.