We are a Non-Profit Foundation who are dedicated to giving our elephants the best life possible with the help of our visitors and volunteers.
Our sanctuary is a registered NGO in Thailand. We opened our doors in May 2016, with the aim to bring as many elephants as possible back to their natural habitat whilst working on educating both the public and the locals about elephant treatment and try to combat illegal trade.
We at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary are passionate about elephant welfare and want our elephants to live their lives as naturally and with as little human influence as possible. We do not promote elephant rides or any form of elephant performance.
Our elephants are taken from a life of inadequate health care, poor diet, exhaustion and entertaining tourists, they were unable to just be elephants. We brought these wonderful creatures back to their natural environment where they are living in semi-wild conditions, free to roam as much as is possible and live their lives how they choose – interacting and foraging. We plan to rescue elephants of all ages and sizes and bring them home to the forest.
We also work very closely with the community of our village where the sanctuary is set. We provide an income for our community by creating homestays for the volunteers to stay, renting land, and creating jobs. We give back to our wonderful community by teaching English at the school, to the homestays and to the mahouts.
Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary is an ethical, sustainable, eco-friendly program, that offers an authentic Hill Tribe experience for its participants, all while rescuing and returning elephants back to the forest. The founders are actively involved on a daily level, and very passionate about their work, the elephants, and their community.
I made the choice to volunteer with KSES because it is a small and intimate program that puts the needs of their elephants first. I liked that they provide visitors with opportunity to observe the elephants in their natural habitat; foraging and interacting the way elephants are supposed to. I was especially impressed by the thoughtful way in which they have integrated their program to work and support their local community.
I participated in the KSES teacher internship program and got to live with a Karen Hill Tribe family and teach English to the village children. I rode the “bus” (an open-back pickup truck with a rack) with the children and taught grades kindergarten through sixth grade 3 days a week. When I wasn’t teaching, I was observing elephants in the wild! I enjoyed the hike to the elephants, and liked that every day was a different experience. Watching the elephants forage, interact, and socialize never got old. Because KSES is not a “tourist camp” my experience was intimate with the elephants. I got to “know” the elephants and could really recognize their distinct personality traits..
What I found to be appealing about Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary is that there are no gimmicks, no "touristy type" hooks, just pure intent and authenticity.
I volunteered for Kindred Spirit for 1 month in June 2016. It was an amazing experience. Seeing elephants in their natural habitat roaming, foraging and socializing was unforgettable. The staff on the project are very knowledgeable about elephants, conservation and the captive elephant situation in Thailand. Of course the elephants were the highlight, but immersing myself in another culture was truly amazing. My homestay family along with the mahouts and other villagers were so welcoming, opening their homes and showing me their way of life. I had the time of my life, an experience I will never forget!
