There are many elephants in Thailand.
There are also many elephants’ “farms” and in recent years, public opinion becoming more and more demanding on animal welfare, “Sanctuaries” have appeared.
Sanctuaries or Farms?
Marketing having gone through this, farms become sanctuaries without us really knowing what has changed.
Elephant rides are more and more decried, while horseback riding does not pose a problem …
It is difficult to be rational when we talk about animal welfare, a subject that quickly becomes emotional.
Obviously the most unbearable images have disappeared. Beaten animals, chained together, is probably ancient history, the impact on public opinion becoming commercially catastrophic.
However, all these centres have paid entrance, which does not help to get a clear idea of the vocation of these farms and sanctuaries.
Elephant Sanctuary Koh Samui
I chose this excursion a little by chance during a stay in Koh Samui.
This sanctuary gathers old elephants, 14 in all on two sites, who have worked a good part of their elephant life as an attraction for tourists or in the woods when it was still allowed.
The infrastructure of this sanctuary is very Spartan, which is rather good news.
“Typical jungle” walkways and bars are clearly more popular with tourists than elephants.
Here everything seems to be done for the comfort of elephants more than that of tourists.
The tour is interesting, my guide answered all my questions, even the slightly disturbing ones.
Link on Elephant Sanctuary Bohput.
in short
An interesting visit but with a big problem: the price!
Admission is 3,000 THB per adult and 1,500 THB for children up to 11 years old, free for children up to 4 years old.
A family of 2 adults and 2 children between 4 and 11 years old will pay 9,000 THB of entrance!
Unreasonable, unless you consider that the entrance is a donation to the sanctuary.
Ciao!
