Hello and a warm welcome to Koh Phangan’s very first ethical elephant sanctuary, which has finally opened!
Join us in the morning or afternoon for a once-in-a-lifetime experience and spend quality time with our small herd of rescued elephants. Our sanctuary is centred amid a verdant jungle on the hillsides of Koh Phangan surrounded by lush forest, and blessed with a smooth-flowing stream. Whilst visiting Phangan Elephant Sanctuary you will learn the history of these magnificent creatures, and have the opportunity to get up close and personal and make rice balls to feed the herd. Feeding these once-mistreated animals by hand leaves you with a memory that will stay with you forever. As we gently pace on one of the jungle trails, observing the elephants forage for food in a more natural environment (more food actually), or take a dip in the mud bath, be prepared to capture the unique moments of the girls with your camera, free from chains and unburdened by heavy ‘passengers’.
Each visit to Phangan Elephant Sanctuary helps us to rescue and protect Thailand’s gentle giants and aids in raising a greater awareness amongst the Worldwide community of animal lovers.
To find out more, click “Visit Us” in the menu. See you soon!
Our Activities
Meet The Herd
Why visit Koh Phangan Elephant Sanctuary?
In November 2022, Maew Suriya, the founder of Samui Elephant Haven, went on a mission to provide help and address the upcoming danger of the elephants on the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan. In response to the lockdowns and the inevitable decline in tourist visits, Maew decided to extend as much help as possible and open a sanctuary for the elephants that were no longer needed in the tourist trade of elephant trekking. Previously an elephant riding camp, the camp was in a dire situation due to the complete drop-off of visitors to the islands.
Phangan Elephant Sanctuary is lucky enough to be surrounded by a lush forest on a hillside in the South of the island, Phangan Elephant Sanctuary invites visitors from all walks of life to join us on an enlightening journey, diving deep into the history and individual stories of these rescued elephants.
We offer you a unique opportunity to interact with these super-intelligent creatures and feed the herd by making rice balls and hand-feeding the girls. A fabulous experience to have had in your lifetime.
Maew and his dedicated team have remained steadfast in upholding the same unwavering ethical principles that defined Samui Elephant Haven. Their primary goal is to ensure that these once-demoralised beings remain liberated from chains and untouched by the burden of tourists on their backs.
For further information and to plan your visit, we invite you to explore their website:
Elephants do not have a voice, so we want to be their voice by not tolerating the following points in our sanctuary:
No Riding
Just because elephants are huge elephants doesn’t mean they can carry heavy loads.
No Bathing
Elephants are not forced to bathe several times a day because it’s not in their nature.
No Entertaining
There is no forced entertainment for our visitors by elephants.
Meet The Herd
Protect the elephants of Thailand. Join us on their journey.
Mee Boon
Meet Grandma Meeboon at Phangan Elephant Sanctuary! She’s had a tough life, as she’s spent most of it being ridden by tourists. When the COVID situation hit, she was given a break from this exhausting work, but unfortunately it actually caused some problems for her.
You see, when she doesn’t have a job, she doesn’t receive the same level of care, and she often doesn’t have enough food. Plus, she’s often chained up and unable to move around as much as she’d like. It’s almost like she’s been imprisoned for the past three years or more!
All of this has really taken a toll on her health. Her legs have become weak, and she has trouble laying down to sleep. We want to give Grandma Meeboon the care and love she deserves, so she can live out her golden years in peace and comfort.
✝ Died in July 2023 You will remain in memory & in our hearts
Jai Dee
Let us introduce you to Grandma Jai Dee! Despite her calm demeanor and friendly appearance, she’s always ready to defend herself if another elephant comes too close. It’s not often that we see an elephant who’s accepting of its female mahout, but Grandma Jai Dee had a special bond with her old mahout – an old woman close to her own age.
Even in her old age, Grandma Jai Dee was still working in the trekking industry until we came to help her. Unfortunately, she lost all of her teeth many years ago, which has made it difficult for her to eat regular food. That’s why we have to prepare special food for her – we grind it up so it’s fine and soft, making it easier for her to chew.
We’re committed to making sure that Grandma Jai Dee has the best possible care during her golden years.
Yin Dee
This is our rescued Yin Dee.
Her previous residence was the Riding Camp in Pattaya. We are overjoyed that she can now live her life in freedom at our Phangan Elephant Sanctuary. She is about 50 years old and therefore our third grandma in the bunch.
