WATCH: Elephants enjoying enrichments YOU helped provide
News
The elephants of Elephant Forest (formerly Sappraiwan Sanctuary) in Thailand are loving their special new treats, as our team in Thailand celebrates the sanctuary’s exciting new chapter!
Huge news! After years of hard work, the Sappraiwan elephant venue in Thailand has officially transformed into the Elephant Forest Sanctuary!
Thanks to animal lovers like you and our wonderful Thai team, rescued elephants like Boonlai and her friend Sribua now have a safe place they can always call home after suffering years of abuse in the entertainment industry.
The elephants (and their human friends) celebrated the sanctuary’s opening with lots of special enrichment toys filled with their favourite fruits.
Watch the video to see the elephants party hard at the Elephant Forest’s official launch party!
This incredible news comes after World Animal Protection supporters came together to raise lifechanging funds that could build two new elephant sanctuaries in Thailand.
Elephant Forest also introduced some exciting new facilities that will make sure the elephants live comfortably and happily for years to come. These include a special food blender that will help chop up fruits and banana leaves for older elephants who’ve lost their teeth, and a special viewing tower where visitors can watch the elephants from afar.
And thanks to supporters like you, Elephant Forest has their very own flourishing garden of banana trees and Napier grass, meaning the sanctuary will have a secure supply of nutritious elephant food right at home.
Meet some of the majestic residents of Elephant Forest Sanctuary
Roy-Ngern
Roy-Ngern was one of the last elephants to be captured from the wild forests of Myanmar to be exploited for logging and tourism. Her past trauma left her frightened and caused her to hide behind trees, but she’s slowly learning to trust again. Now living at the sanctuary, she follows the herd from a safe distance and calls out when she’s unsure. She has a gentle nature, especially with children, and once saved fellow elephants during a flash flood in Chiang Mai. With time, patience, and friendship, Roy-Ngern is slowly healing and learning that she no longer needs to hide.
Sribua
Sribua worked in a tourist camp where she was forced to carry visitors despite a painful leg injury. She was beaten and pushed to walk faster. As a result, her ears didn't flap, her tail didn't sway, and her spirit was completely broken. When she arrived at the sanctuary, she was quiet and fearful. But with patience, gentle care and her fellow elephants, Sribua began to heal. She now playfully bumps heads with her best friend Gumrai, and leans into her mahouts for affection. Now, although this sweet elephant still walks slowly, she is full of life, trust, and joy and is finally living the peaceful life she deserves.
Gumrai
Gumrai spent years giving rides to tourists and worked in the brutal logging industry. When she arrived at the sanctuary, she was thin, stressed, and sick, suffering from digestive issues and anaemia. She swayed her head anxiously, a sign of trauma and confinement. But everything changed when she met Sribua. With love, care and friendship, Gumrai began to truly heal from her traumatic past. Her stress faded and was replaced by playfulness and peace. Today, she roams freely and enjoys a calm, natural environment with friends.
With your help, even more venues could follow Elephant Forest’s example and become truly safe havens for rescued elephants. Thank you for giving wild animals lives worth living.
Donate to protect elephants
You can help give elephants the chance to live out their lives in a calm, peaceful environment.
Elephant facts
Did you know that elephants can live up to 70 years in the wild, however their lifespan in captivity is generally shorter?