Work with an elephant vet at an elephant sanctuary to care for, learn about, and volunteer with elephants.
This two-week program puts you alongside elephant veterinarians and professionals dedicated to teaching you a wealth of knowledge and unique skills while helping animals in need. The program takes place at one or more elephant sanctuaries where you work with elephant professionals providing medical care and positive reinforcement training for medical procedures, learn about their behavior and welfare, and design and provide enrichments to the pachyderms.
Who It’s For
Students age 20 or older who are currently enrolled in veterinary school or have been admitted to vet school for the next academic year. If you are currently enrolled in veterinary school but are under 20, please contact us about admission. Individuals of any nationality may apply. Fluency in English is required.
Applicants should be comfortable hiking and working with animals in the heat and getting their hands, and everything else, dirty. This program can accommodate a maximum of 12 students per session.
Highlights
- Work in a small group with an elephant trainer and elephant vet
- Learn the history of Asian elephants and various management and training methods
- Learn and assist in elephant medical care including diagnostics, treatments, and preventative medicine
- Assist in positive reinforcement training, perform behavioral observations and ethograms, and provide enrichments to the elephants
- Guided tour of Chiang Mai, including night markets and the stunning golden spires of the mountaintop temple
- Applicants should be comfortable hiking and working in heat with animals and getting their hands, and everything else, dirty!
- This program can accommodate a maximum of 12 students
