Error-Id:
  • Home
  • Premium Programs New
  • Travel Guide Free
  • Premium Programs New
  • Travel Guide Free

Choose a language

Dansk Deutsch English Español Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk Português Svenska

Choose a currency

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Euro NZ-Dollar Pound Sterling Swiss Franc US-Dollar Norwegian krone Swedish krona Danish krone
close

Best Destinations 2025


  • Costa Rica

    Most popular
  • South Africa

  • Tanzania

  • Thailand

    Trending
  • Ecuador

  • Indonesia

Africa


  • Tanzania

    Zanzibar

  • Ghana

  • South Africa

    Cape Town

  • Namibia

  • Kenya

Asia


  • Nepal

  • Indonesia

    Bali

  • India

    Delhi

  • Thailand

    Asian Elephants

  • Sri Lanka

North & Central America


  • Costa Rica

  • Caribbean

    Dominican Republic

  • Belize

  • Mexico

  • United States

South America


  • Ecuador

    Galapagos

  • Chile

  • Colombia

  • Peru

    Cusco

  • Brazil

    Rio

Europe & Oceania


  • Spain

  • Portugal

  • Italy

  • Croatia

  • Australia

Western Africa


  • Cape Verde

  • Ghana

  • Senegal

Northern Africa


  • Egypt

  • Morocco

Eastern Africa


  • Kenya

  • Madagascar

  • Malawi

  • Mozambique

  • Rwanda

  • Seychelles

  • Tanzania

    Zanzibar

  • Uganda

  • Zambia

  • Zimbabwe

Middle Africa


  • Cameroon

Southern Africa


  • Botswana

  • Namibia

  • South Africa

    Cape Town

  • Swaziland

Middle East


  • Israel

  • Palestine

  • Turkey

Southern Asia


  • India

    Delhi

  • Maldives

  • Nepal

  • Sri Lanka

Eastern Asia


  • China

    Big Pandas

  • Mongolia

  • South Korea

South East Asia


  • Cambodia

  • Indonesia

    Bali

  • Laos

  • Malaysia

    Borneo

  • Philippines

  • Thailand

    Asian Elephants

  • Vietnam

North America


  • Canada

  • United States

Central America


  • Belize

  • Costa Rica

  • El Salvador

  • Guatemala

  • Honduras

  • Mexico

  • Nicaragua

  • Panama

Latin America


  • Argentina

    Buenos Aires

  • Bolivia

  • Brazil

    Rio

    Amazon Rainforest

  • Chile

  • Colombia

  • Ecuador

    Galapagos

  • Guyana

  • Paraguay

  • Peru

    Cusco

the Caribbean


  • Cuba

  • Dominican Republic

  • Grenada

  • Jamaica

Europe


  • Albania

  • Bosnia and Herzegovina

  • Croatia

  • France

  • Greece

  • Hungary

  • Iceland

  • Ireland

  • Italy

  • Moldova

  • Portugal

  • Romania

  • Russian Federation

  • Spain

  • Ukraine

  • United Kingdom

Oceania


  • Australia

    Great Barrier Reef

  • Fiji

  • French Polynesia

  • New Zealand

  • Papua New Guinea

close

Trending Topics 2025


  • Marine Conservation

    Marine Life

  • Education

    Teaching English

  • Diving

    Trending
  • Childcare

Good for


  • Under 18s

    High School

  • Groups

    Families

  • Over 50s & Seniors

  • Mission Trips (Short-term)

  • Low Budgets

Internships Abroad


  • Medical Training

    Nursing

  • Psychology

  • Veterinary Training

  • Biology & Environment

  • Business & Marketing

Environment & Conservation


  • Environment & Conservation

  • Farming & Agriculture

  • Marine Conservation

  • Round Trips & Camps

Humanitarian Aid


  • Childcare & Daycare Support

  • Healthcare

    Medical Mission Trips

  • Special Needs & Disabilities

  • Sports

    Soccer

    Surfing

  • Education

    Teaching English

Community Services


  • Building & Construction

  • Community Development

  • Culture & Arts

  • Human & Women's Rights

  • NGO Management

Wildlife Conservation


  • Animal Shelter

    Cats

    Dogs

  • Elephants

  • Horses

  • Orangutans

  • Primates

    Monkeys

  • Sloth Sanctuary

  • Animal Protection

Marine Life


  • Dolphins

  • Great White Sharks

  • Penguins

  • Scuba Diving

    Coral Reefs

  • Sea Turtles

  • Whales

  • Whale Sharks

African Wildlife


  • African Elephants

  • Cheetahs

  • Gorillas

  • Lemurs

  • Leopards

  • Lions

  • Rhinos

Volunteer Abroad Elephant Conservation Asian Elephant

Volunteer with Elephants in Asia

Volunteering with Asian elephants is the perfect way to discover the beauty of Asia and protect one of the symbolic animals of the Asian culture at the same time...

Volunteering with Asian elephants is the perfect way to discover the beauty of Asia and protect one of the symbolic animals of the Asian culture at the same time. Thailand is the biggest country in the cruel elephant tourism industry so there are lots of places caring for rescued elephants that need the help of volunteers.

Travel to Chiang Mai to work as a care for the grey giants in Sri Lanka. You love working with people? Educate locals and tourists about the cruel elephant riding business and visit Phuket or Bangkok during your free time.

< endangered >
EN
banner
Activities Elephant Conservation Asia South East Asia Animal Wildlife Conservation Thailand Hotspots Planting Trees Animal Sanctuary Bangkok Vegan Chiang Mai Yoga Elephant Research Indian Elephant Reforestation Cambodia Monkey Conservation Sri Lanka Sri Lankan Elephant Southern Asia Bear Conservation Kathmandu Monastery Jaipur Voluntourism Himalaya Volunteer and Travel Delhi Gibbon Indigenous cultures Civet Conservation Macaque Civet Sun Bear Giant Otter Wildcat Conservation Asian Wildcat Otter Conservation Asiatic Black Bear Lorise Koh Samui Marketing and IT NGO Support Intern Abroad Photography Internship National Park Laos Dusky Leaf Monkey Ecological Farming Environment Mangrove Conservation Work Plant Conservation Hiking
Filter
Filter
 Ethical Elephant Refuge
Life On Land
Available from Aug 2025
🔥 In High Demand
Thailand Amphoe Thayang, Thailand
Atlas Volunteers

Ethical Elephant Refuge

Brilliant 4.8
(310)
⭐ Popular Flex Option
495 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Take care of endangered Asian elephants rescued from the logging and tourism industries. Get involved up close with feeding, cleaning and enrichment activities. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Thailand Elephant Volunteers
Life On Land
🔥 In High Demand
Thailand Phetchaburi, Thailand
Plan My Gap Year

Thailand Elephant Volunteers

Excellent 4.9
(1322)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
564 €  per week · 1  ‑  4  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Work closely with rescued Asian elephants in this inspiring elephant sanctuary in Thailand. If you love elephants, this experience is not to be missed! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Forest Elephant Sanctuary
Life On Land
🔥 In High Demand
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers

Forest Elephant Sanctuary

Excellent 4.8
(88)
⭐ Popular Video Flex Option
780 €  per week · 1  ‑  2  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

The Elephant Sanctuary enables volunteers to make a tangible difference amid a backdrop of beauty, wonder and exploration Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Ethical Elephant Sanctuary
Life On Land
Cambodia Sen Monorom, Cambodia
Atlas Volunteers

Ethical Elephant Sanctuary

Brilliant 4.8
(310)
Flex Option
489 €  per week · 1  ‑  16  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

If you love elephants and you want to view these amazing creatures in their natural habitat, there is no better place in the world. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Thai Elephant Sanctuary
Life On Land
Thailand Bangkok, Thailand
Oceans 2 Earth Volunteers

Thai Elephant Sanctuary

Excellent 4.8
(88)
Video Flex Option
630 €  per week · 1  ‑  26  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join us in Thailand, offering safety and care for rescued domesticated elephants, giving them a chance for a peaceful and natural life. 🐘 Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Real Asia Encounter
Quality Education Reduced Inequalities Life On Land
Sri Lanka Ambalangoda, Sri Lanka
Plan My Gap Year

Real Asia Encounter

Excellent 4.9
(1322)
Video Flex Option
240 €  per week · 6  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Sri Lanka, India and Nepal! We can’t think of a more sublime combination of exotic and fascinating countries to volunteer in over 6, 9 or 12 weeks. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Thailand Wildlife Rescue Volunteers
Life On Land
Thailand Phetchaburi, Thailand
Plan My Gap Year

Thailand Wildlife Rescue Volunteers

Excellent 4.9
(1322)
Video Flex Option
564 €  per week · 1  ‑  4  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Help protect these inspiring animals at this wildlife haven. Become part of a mission to rescue animals from neglect and abuse in the tourism industry. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Research Internship
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant Research Internship

Excellent 4.9
(24)
Video Flex Option
412 €  per week · 1  ‑  8  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

This internship is an exciting opportunity for any current or recently graduated university students who want more work experience or are interested in elephants. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Care and Conservation
Life On Land
Thailand Koh Samui, Thailand
Involvement Volunteers IVI

Elephant Care and Conservation

Brilliant 4.7
(226)
Flex Option
873 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

Take care of elephants in beautiful Koh Samui island! Work closely with these majestic animals, learning about their behavior, needs, & how to care for them responsibly. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Photography Internship
Decent Work And Economic Growth Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Photography Internship

Excellent 4.9
(24)
Video Flex Option
412 €  per week · 1  ‑  8  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

This is a great experience for any photography/art students or graduates who need more experience in the field or anyone with an interest or experience in photography. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Conservation
Life On Land
Sri Lanka Wasgamuwa National Park, Sri Lanka
The Great Projects

Elephant Conservation

Fantastic 4.5
(112)
Video Flex Option
701 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+

Encounter the beautiful Asian elephant on this elephant conservation program deep within the lush Sri Lankan jungle. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Care and Protection Supporter
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Adventure Volunteer

Elephant Care and Protection Supporter

Brilliant 4.7
(34)
Video Flex Option
672 €  per week · 1  ‑  2  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Help abused elephants recover and develop in a healthy environment by supporting them on their daily needs. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Visit and Help Elephants
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Visit and Help Elephants

Excellent 4.9
(24)
Video Flex Option
851 €  per week · 1  ‑  1  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

We are an award winning foundation, working in partnership with the local communities to bring their elephants home to the forest. A must do for elephant lovers! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Husbandry & Enrichment Experience
Life On Land
Laos Vientiane, Laos
LCTW (Wildlife Rescue Center)

Husbandry & Enrichment Experience

Brilliant 4.8
(12)
Flex Option
569 €  per week · 1  ‑  24  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

From caring for, feeding, and enriching the lives of our animals, no day in our Animal Husbandry and Enrichment Program is ever the same! Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Forest Restoration and Conservation
Life On Land
Thailand Pai, Thailand
Conserve Natural Forests

Forest Restoration and Conservation

Excellent 4.9
(11)
Flex Option
225 €  per week · 2  ‑  50  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Our volunteer program offers hands-on experience in reforestation and conservation in the forests of Thailand to protect biodiversity and combat climate change. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Care and Rehabilitation
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Involvement Volunteers IVI

Elephant Care and Rehabilitation

Brilliant 4.7
(226)
Flex Option
873 €  per week · 1  ‑  12  weeks · Age  16+ · Has Wifi

Based in a sanctuary that provides a safe haven for old, sick, disabled, previously abused, or illegally-owned elephants. Help clean elephant areas & prepare food. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant and Gibbon Encounters
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Elephant and Gibbon Encounters

Excellent 4.9
(24)
Flex Option
690 €  per week · 1  ‑  1  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Join our award-winning foundation! Partnering with local communities, we bring elephants home to the forest and help conserve gibbons in their natural habitat. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Wildlife Conservation Internship.
Decent Work And Economic Growth Life On Land
Thailand Huay Pakoot, Thailand
GVI

Wildlife Conservation Internship.

Brilliant 4.7
(152)
Video Flex Option
1171 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Support community efforts to help reintegrate elephants into their natural habitat, from their previous lives in the tourism industry. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Teen Elephant Conservation
Life On Land
Thailand Chiang Mai, Thailand
GVI

Teen Elephant Conservation

Brilliant 4.7
(152)
Flex Option
1547 €  per week · 2  ‑  2  weeks · Age  14+ · Has Wifi

Embark on a wild adventure into the mountains of Thailand to contribute to ethical elephant conservation projects. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
 Elephant Conservation Worker
Life On Land
Thailand Phetchaburi, Thailand
Rainbow Garden Village

Elephant Conservation Worker

Great 4.4
(26)
Flex Option
493 €  per week · 2  ‑  12  weeks · Age  18+ · Has Wifi

Help make a difference to elephants who had previously been kept in poor conditions around the country, by creating a safe and comfortable environment for them. Details >

Airport Taxi
Housing
Food
Details
Show All 21 Programs
< endangered >
EN
Volunteer Abroad Elephant Conservation Asian Elephant

Volunteer Projects and Internships with Asian Elephants

Who doesn’t love elephants? Probably everyone would love to see these amazing creatures in real life and would like to spend some time with them. Guess what: you have the opportunity to combine spending time abroad and at the same time volunteer with Asian elephants.

In Asia, elephants are important cultural icons and symbolize wisdom and royal power. In comparison to their African relatives, the Asian elephant is slightly smaller in size and can also be identified by their smaller and rounded ears that resemble the shape of the Asian continent. In order to survive the animals need extensive land that provides a lot of food. Furthermore, the elephants that live in herds rely on hundreds of pounds of food on a single day. Sadly, due to their tremendous use of space, food and water these large mammals place great demands on the environment, resulting in conflict with people in competition for resources.

Asian Elephant Conservation status in 2025

According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species the Asian elephant is endangered and constantly decreasing. At the beginning of the 20th century the population was as high as 100.000 elephants but has fallen by 50% of their original rage. Nowadays it is estimated that the elephant population in Asia has shrunk to about 40.000 to 50.000 animals. There are different reasons for the drastic decline of Asian elephants, but some of the biggest threats to these creatures are:

  • poaching and illegal ivory trading
  • habitat loss
  • general human-wildlife conflict
  • unsustainable tourism

Even though the trade of ivory was internationally banned in 1989, there are black markets for ivory because the tusks are worth a lot of money and in Asia the tradition of ivory carving is as old as 500 years. Thailand for example has one of the largest and most active ivory industries worldwide. Because only the male Asian elephants have tusks, poaching has also impacts on the reproduction of the animals. Furthermore, elephants are also poached for their leather and their meat.

Besides poaching, one of the biggest threats for Asian elephants is the competition for space. As one of the fastest growing continents in the world, human settlement takes place in the Asian elephants’ areas and migration routes. Through the destruction of forests the elephants continually lose more and more of their natural habitat. Large projects such as the building of roads or dams, agricultural plantations and the general expanding human settlement have also reduced the animals’ space. Similar to poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation also influence the elephants’ reproduction as the populations are divided into small and isolated groups. Resulting from this development is a constant human-wildlife conflict as a growing number of the Asian population lives near the elephants’ areas. Humans and elephants come into contact more often as elephants raid farmland, trample and destroy crops. Not infrequently, people respond with gunfire or poison the elephants.

Another threat for the Asian elephant is the tourism industry. Elephants are taken from their natural habitat in order to function as tourist attractions. Young elephants are captured and illegally imported to Thailand to be used as economical tools. For many tourists, riding on the back of an elephant is the ultimate experience and sadly enough most of the tourists are not aware of the fact that the animals are not made for entertainment. To attract foreign tourists the elephants are being trained to carry people on their backs or to paint ‘funny’ pictures with their trunks. All this are tasks that are extremely unnatural for these animals and are enforced with violent training and handling. This is often visible as they show noticeable scars and wounds on their grey and thick skin as well as unnatural behavior that results from trauma and stress.

As you can see there are many threats to Asian elephants. Because of that, the animals rely on the helping hand of volunteers. If you are interested in turning your travel experience into an even more meaningful journey keep on reading because in the following we will give you all the information you need in order to help Asian elephants.

Best Places to work with Asian Elephants

Before you start your amazing volunteer journey you need to make a decision about where you want to go in Asia. You have a great variety of options where you are able to volunteer with Asian elephants, such as:

Asia
  • Cambodia
  • Laos
  • Sri Lanka
  • Thailand

But choosing the right place for you is not that easy and relies on a few factors. If you prefer to stay in a more remote area, we highly recommend Sri Lanka. The island in the Indian Ocean offers you not only the most stunning nature, but furthermore an insight into elephant sanctuaries. Here you have the possibility to stay in the Central Province, Kegalle, Ambalangoda or the Wasgamuwa National Park. Another place for you to volunteer at is Sabah, a part of Malaysia located on the north of Borneo Island. With its tropical rainforests and long mountain ranges, Borneo offers you the most spectacular nature. If you are looking for a more popular and touristy destination, Chiang Mai in Thailand might be the better spot for you. The city, also referred to as the “Rose of the North”, offers you both an amazing landscape and cultural attractions. Of course, it is hard to choose where to go. In order to help you, the following guide will give you detailed information on the different projects in the field of Asian elephant conservation.

How can I help to save the Asian Elephant?

There is a variety of different programs in order to protect the Asian elephant with each project having a different focus. Depending on what you are looking for during your time volunteering, the following introduction into the different tasks will be helpful for you to find the perfect program for you.

Your tasks as a volunteer

During your volunteer time abroad you will fulfill different work in various fields, of course depending on the program you are going to choose. Some of these tasks require you to work closely with the endangered animals but there can also be days where your help in office work is needed. If you are working closely with the animals you will have different responsibilities from cleaning to feeding the animals or cleaning their sheds. In most of the projects, you will work closely with the traditional mahouts. This will furthermore give you the amazing experience of learning how to communicate with the elephants. In order for you to get an overview of your tasks as a volunteer with Asian elephants, please take a look at the following list of possible tasks:

  • cleaning the elephants’ sheds
  • health inspection of the elephants
  • assisting veterinarians
  • feeding the animals
  • construction and maintenance of mud pits

Some of the programs offered also include the collection of scientific data about the Asian elephant and their social behavior. So if you are thinking of becoming a biologist or veterinarian this could be the perfect volunteering option for you. Another work that is of great importance is the work in local communities, where your main task is to inform locals about the Asian elephants, your volunteer project, and their significance. Tasks can be:

  • interacting with the local children (Teaching English, playing)
  • interacting with community members
  • assisting at local schools

Your benefits of volunteering with Asian Elephants

Volunteering with Asian elephants is probably one of the most amazing experiences. Not only will you do something meaningful by being a volunteer, but you will also grow as a person through your different tasks and responsibilities. As a volunteer, you will be part of a great project, with people from all over the world with different cultural backgrounds. Sharing the same passion for animal conservation and working and achieving something together will connect you even more. Besides the personal growth, your time as a volunteer can also be helpful for those of you who haven’t decided on a career path yet. If you are thinking about a career in biology or you always thought about becoming a veterinarian, the hands-on work with Asian elephants might make your choice easier. Another benefit is, of course, the language. Spending time in a different country will improve your language skills and you will become more confident with its use. Becoming a volunteer is highly interesting because it gives you the opportunity to combine both volunteering and traveling. That sounds like an experience you are looking for? Do not wait and start to plan your next adventure right now!

NOT
EVALUATED
NE
DATA
DEFICIENT
DD
LEAST
CONCERN
LC
NEAR
THREATENED
NT
VULNERABLE VU
< endangered >
EN
CRITICALLY
ENDANGERED
CR
EXTINCT
IN THE WILD
EW

Choose a language

Dansk Deutsch English Español Français Italiano Nederlands Norsk Português Svenska

Choose a currency

Australian Dollar Canadian Dollar Euro NZ-Dollar Pound Sterling Swiss Franc US-Dollar Norwegian krone Swedish krona Danish krone
  • Sign Up as an Organization
  • About us
  • Press
  • Help Center
  • Blog
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Terms
  • Legal Disclosure
4.6
3,300+ reviews on
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Tiktok
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
© Volunteer World ⠮⠄
© Volunteer World ⠮⠄
Contents