An Elephant Never Forgets (And Neither Will We!)
By Tess and Sam – 1 week research interns
A few weeks into our backpacking trip through Southeast Asia, Sam and I found ourselves looking to not only be tourists, but travellers. We wanted to immerse ourselves in a new culture and find opportunities to contribute to something meaningful. Interning at Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary (KSES) gave us exactly that.
We arrived at the village in the back of a truck and ready for adventure. We were greeted warmly by the community and tight-knit KSES team, immediately feeling welcomed and at ease. We soon learned about the complicated history of Asian elephants in Thailand, being used in the logging industry, circuses, and tourism for generations. We learned about the research being done at KSES and its role in supporting elephant conservation and ethical tourism practices. We collected data on elephant behaviour and social interactions; insights that can be used to assess their wellbeing and hopefully contribute to informing welfare standards for captive elephants in Thailand.
What truly stood out was the difference in the way of life in the village, a lifestyle centered around community and connection with nature. The opportunity to experience a simpler way of life, slow down, and unplug, is something I will never forget. We rose early each morning, starting the day with a hike through the forested hills to observe the elephants in their natural habitat. The local guide Rose taught us to identify native plants, often pointing out edible ones along the trail. We found passion fruits, guava, and leaves that tasted like sour berries. All the meals we ate were cooked for us by our homestay host, made from their own family’s crops. We connected with the community, meeting the local ladies selling their handmade goods, and teaching English to the village children.
A defining part of our time at KSES was seeing the devastating aftermath of a recent flood. We could feel the lasting impact of fear and vulnerability that comes from experiencing a natural disaster, but we also learned how the community comes together in times of need, whether it’s harvesting crops or repairing destroyed infrastructure after a flood.
Though we may have lost power, running water, and cell reception, we felt connected to the environment and the community in ways that we hadn’t before, an experience that was truly grounding.
An elephant never forgets. And neither will we :)
