Emily at Elephant World
If you’re completing your Bronze or Silver award at Oathall you might be interested to see how ex-Oathall student, Emily Pippard got on with completing her volunteering section for her Gold award. Emily kindly sent us this account of her time spent volunteering at Elephants World, Kanchanburi, Thailand.
In August, this year I travelled to Thailand for a month, during my trip I planned a day-trip to Elephants World. It is a rescue sanctuary for old, sick and retired elephants and my plan was to go there for one day. I ended up having the most incredible day there and decided too change my travel plans. I organised to stay on in Thailand and returned for a week to the sanctuary to volunteer at the end of my trip.
During my extra week, I had to work as part of a team of international volunteers and Thai staff. Our main roles were to guide day guests from all over the world around the sanctuary. I was given daily responsibilities of preparing food baskets for the elephants and organising other activities so the day could run smoothly.
It was amazing getting to know each of the elephants; they each had their own personalities and background stories. Like many Asian elephants, they had all been badly treated previously in their lives. Some of the elephants suffered from bad treatment and malnourishment at tourist trekking camps. Other elephants suffered from being overworked in the logging industries or unnaturally made to live and beg in cities. They had been rescued and donated to Elephants World, where they were being cared for wonderfully in a natural environment and were finally happy. There were 12 elephants in total, including a two year old baby orphan and a blind elephant. I was learnt so much, and was feeding, bathing and playing with them every day! I had the best week ever, and didn’t want to leave!
Emily Pippard
Gold D. of E. Residential
