Elephant Paradise Family

Staff is friendly and I had a great experience there's thanks

Escogimos la modalidad de visita al santuario ,con treking y rafting previamente .Por nuestra parte todo perfecto. Recomiendo coger todo el pack ya que hacer el viaje de hora y media para solo disfrutar de los elefantes se queda corto a mi gusto.
Los elefantes parecían bien cuidados, los propios cuidadores del santuario se metieron a bañarlos con nosotros y después se les veía atentos con los animales. Estos elefantes no han sido nunca montados, ni siquiera por los dueños.

I urge anyone looking to experience a true elephant sanctuary to please do your research and realize what you are actually contributing to. We went to this sanctuary believing that it was truly a place where abused elephants would live freely and happily. Not let me first say that at first it appeared that this was true but the longer we spent there the more I believe that this and other "sanctuaries" are nothing more than an alternate way for these previous riding camps to make money. Each elephant does have a mahout to watch them but these men carry sticks attached to them and they do pull on the elephants ears to control them. I realize that these large creatures may be difficult to tame but it was still unsettling. The adolescent elephant would equal and dig in his heels whenever his mahout pulled his ears. Granted he wasn't a very good listener but this is still something that I didn't want to see. Apparently elephants have very sensitive ears and pulling on them is quite painful. Secondly, their sleeping area was a very small space that was close to a hille dge so I'm not sure how they would have slept their without having to be chained. Third, these animals are by no means free. They are still there to bathe and go into the mud pool when they are told. If you know anything about elephants, rhinos, etc. you know that they need thick layers of mud to help them cool off and for protection from the sun; however, we went into the mud bathe and immediately went to the river so all of that protection is washed off. They are made to sit down while you bathe them..again they are not free.
Lastly, one of the elephants was pregnant due to INTENTIONAL breeding as our guide informed us. Now why would a sanctuary , especially one who (according to our guide) was struggling to feed the elephants due to lower tourism intentionally bring a baby into the sanctuary when they are struggling as is and when there surely are many other abused elephants who could use the safety away from riding camps? It just didn't fit or feel right.
So if you absolutely must see elephants up close please think long and hard before visiting a sanctuary and do never visit a riding camp. I know that these "sanctuaries" are the lesser of two evils and I wonder what would happen to these amazing creatures if they couldn't afford to feed them. It's a tough decision but please think about it.

Nobody cares about you having a picture with an elephant on your Instagram.. these elephants are miserable..