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Surin Project - Weekly Volunteer
The Surin Project is a unique and innovative concept aimed at improving the living conditions of captive Asian elephants by removing elephant rides and providing economic sustainability for their owners through responsible volunteer tourism. We work alongside the Gwi community in the government run Surin Elephant Study Centre located in the village of Ban Tha Klang in the Surin Province in North East Thailand.
e Surin Project´s main focus is to get some of the elephants in the study centre out into more natural surroundings where volunteers can walk alongside them and observe these magni cent creatures acting like elephants should be.
This offers the mahouts who own the elephants an alternative form of employment to elephant riding or elephant shows which are the main forms of income for many mahouts in the area to support their elephants and families.
What to Expect
Volunteers coming to the Surin Project should expect to be immersed in the local Gwi culture in the remote village of Ban a Klang. Working alongside the mahouts and the local community they will learn more about this unique culture and their relationship with elephants.
Most importantly volunteers will get a chance to go out on daily walks to observe the Surin Project elephants interacting with each other in a more natural setting without being ridden.
During their stay in the village volunteers can expect an attack on their senses and will see some of the realities of how captive elephants can be used in the area.
Surin Project - Weekly Volunteer: e Surin Project´s main focus is placement of elephants into more natural surroundings where volunteers can walk alongside them and observe these magnificent creatures in a vastly improved environment. is o ers the mahout owners an alternative form of employment away from elephant riding or circus shows which are the common forms of income for many mahouts in the area
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