Our ER project was started in 2003 and we currently care for over 20 Asian elephants. The majority of them were rescued from trekking camps where they were brutally exploited to entertain tourists. Although they are not able to return to the wild, nearby forests give our elephants the chance to roam around in huge forested enclosures. We have purchased huge pieces of land with forests and lakes, and our largest elephant enclosure is 20 hectares in size! We are proud to be Asia’s first chain-free sanctuary where no elephant is ever chained up, day or night.
Historically, domesticated elephants have been used mainly in the logging industry, helping to destroy the very habitat they need to survive. After the ban on logging most of these elephants ended up being used in the tourism industry or have had to make a living begging on the city streets. Walking on these often dirty and traffic-congested streets is dangerous and unhealthy, and very often these elephants end up being involved in traffic accidents. Regrettably, in Thailand there are no laws to prevent this abuse and mistreatment.
Volunteer duties at the ER include feeding the elephants, cleaning their enclosures, creating enrichments, harvesting banana trees and grasses, and a variety of other maintenance work around the centre. You will have the chance to interact with some of our elephants in an ethical setting. Volunteers from all projects also help us to look after communal areas and the dogs that live here. Volunteering is very hard and physically demanding work, but the reward of seeing the animals enjoying your efforts is priceless.
Our volunteering projects run each week from Sunday to Sunday and we welcome volunteers all year round. We usually have availability if booking a few months in advance, however some times of year are more popular than others so we need to know which dates you would like to join us before we can offer you a place.
To volunteer with us you also need to fulfill the following criteria:
- You must be 18 years old or over
- You must be able to speak a good level of English
- You must be of good physical and mental health, and be able to tolerate a hot and humid climate
- You must have a positive and practical attitude towards animal welfare and wildlife conservation
We value long-term commitment, so the longer you stay the cheaper it becomes! Please note that all projects require a minimum commitment of 1 week. The maximum booking length at any one time is 12 weeks, however this may be extended on site (subject to availability). The volunteer fee covers the cost of your accommodation and 3 meals per day, as well as a contribution towards the animals’ food and care. We can help you arrange taxi transfers to our projects from Bangkok, Petchaburi, Hua Hin or Cha Am for an additional fee.
If volunteering at the ER sounds like something you would like to do, please submit your application form here: Volunteer Application Form
For more information about our projects please refer to our Volunteer Information Pack or speak to one of our Volunteer Coordinators at volunteer@wfft.org.
Thank you for your consideration. We hope you will be able to join us!
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Area activities
Check in times
Sunday Morning
Driving directions
Please check map for directions
Airports
Bangkok DMG or BKK
Other transport
Arranging transfers to and from WFFT
We are able to arrange transfers for volunteers from Bangkok, Hua Hin or Cha Am. Payments need to be made in cash (Thai Baht) to the driver on arrival.
If you wish to be picked up from an airport please send us the arrival date and time, the name of the airport you will be flying in to, and your flight number.
If you would like to be picked up from a hotel please send us the hotel name, full address, and phone number. The best time for a hotel pick-up from Bangkok is 9AM, and the best pick-up time from Hua Hin or Cha Am is 10AM. This will ensure that you will be here on time to have lunch and get a tour around WFFT from a Volunteer Coordinator.
Sometimes we are also able to arrange a shared transfer with other new volunteers arriving on the same day. However, this depends on what time you and other volunteers are available to be picked up. Please let us know if you are interested in sharing a taxi, or if you would prefer a private transfer. Do note that it is only possible to share a taxi with other volunteers if you are being picked up from the same airport or the same hotel.
Bangkok - 2200 Baht per taxi
We are able to collect you from either Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Don Mueang Airport (DMK), or a hotel. We are able to arrange transfers from Bangkok between 6AM and 2PM, because WFFT is still a 3 hour drive away and otherwise there will be no staff member available to greet you.
Hua Hin - 700 Baht per taxi
We are able to collect you from a hotel, bus station, or train station. We are able to arrange pick-ups from Hua Hin between 6AM and 4PM. WFFT is a 1 hour drive from Hua Hin.
Please note that for bus or train station pick-ups you must call us on arrival as trains and buses can arrive much later than scheduled, and we do not want to keep our drivers waiting.
Cha Am - 400 Baht per taxi
We are able to collect you from a hotel, bus station, or train station. We are able to arrange pick-ups from Cha Am between 6AM and 4PM. WFFT is a 30 minute drive from Cha Am.
Please note that for bus or train station pick-ups you must call us on arrival as trains and buses can arrive much later than scheduled, and we do not want to keep our drivers waiting.
For call on arrivals at bus or train stations please contact Amy (+66-876640260) or Tess (+66-871060992) and we will send a taxi for you. Please note that we cannot arrange a taxi pick-up on arrival later than 4PM.
Drop-offs
We are also able to arrange drop-offs in Bangkok, Hua Hin or Cha Am on your departure day (please inform us if you need to leave on a different day than your departure day). We arrange these taxis when you are here.
We can arrange taxis to Bangkok any time between 6AM and 7PM, or to Hua Hin and Cha Am any time between 6AM and 10PM.
Terms and conditions
Step 1
We assume you have submitted your Volunteer Application Form
How to Pay
Paying your Deposit - Step 2
To commence the confirmation stage of your booking, you will be asked to pay a non-refundable 200 € deposit in the email we send to you following receipt of your Volunteer Application Form.
For your convenience, this is the same button.
Payment can be made using a card or a PayPal balance. You do not need a PayPal Account to make a payment by card.
Use this link only to Pay DepositBank Transfer
If you prefer to use Bank Transfer method to pay your deposit, please use the following details. Bank details Bank: Siam Commercial Bank (Publ. Co. Ltd.), Thayang Branch, Petchkasem Road, Thayang, 76130 Petchaburi, Thailand Account holder: Wildlife Friends Foundation Account number: 708-208086-6 SWIFT Code: SICOTHBKConfirm your deposit is paid
Please email us a copy of the payment confirmation you receive along with the following in the email subject field. Your Full Name Volunteer Project Start Date Eg Subject:Billy Bestmate - Elephant Refuge - 3 March 2019Confirmation
When we have received your Volunteer Application Form (step 1) & Your Deposit Payment (Step 2), we will send you a Confirmation email showing an invoice of outstanding balance.- If you have paid your deposit, we expect you to pay the remaining balance within 60 days of your volunteer start date.
- If you have not paid your deposit within 60 days, we will cancel your booking.
Paying your Balance - Step 3
The confirmation email contains a link for you to pay the remaining balance of the invoice. Following receipt of the balance, we will send you an updated Confirmation email containing an invoice that reflects that you have paid in full.Balance Payment
Only use this link to Pay BalanceConfirm your Balance is paid
Please email us a copy of the payment confirmation you receive along with the following in the email subject field. Your Full Name Volunteer Project Start Date Eg Subject:Billy Bestmate - Elephant Refuge - 3 March 2019Cancellation
Here at WFFT we have a 30-day policy regarding cancellations. Any cancellation made outside 30 days of the volunteering placement start date will be refunded the amount already paid minus the 200 Euro non-refundable deposit. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to the start of your volunteering placement, your placement will not be refunded. You may postpone until a later date, but this must be rescheduled within 12 months and is subject to availability.| WRC PRICES | |
| . | |
| 1 week | € 410 |
| 2 weeks | € 690 |
| 3 weeks | € 910 |
| 4 weeks | € 1,155 |
| 5 weeks | € 1,380 |
| 6 weeks | € 1,610 |
| 7 weeks | € 1,840 |
| 8 weeks | € 2,070 |
| 9 weeks | € 2,300 |
| 10 weeks | € 2,530 |
| 11 weeks | € 2,760 |
| 12 weeks | € 2,990 |
| Combination prices: | |
| . | |
| 1 WRC & 1 ER | € 635 |
| 1 WRC & 2 ER | € 860 |
| 1 WRC & 3 ER | € 1,035 |
| 1 WRC & 4 ER | € 1,230 |
| . | |
| 1 ER & 1 WRC | € 635 |
| 1 ER & 2 WRC | € 840 |
| 1 ER & 3 WRC | € 955 |
| 1 ER & 4 WRC | € 1,070 |
| . | |
| 1 ER & 1 WRC | € 635 |
| 2 ER & 2 WRC | € 1,065 |
| 3 ER & 3 WRC | € 1,355 |
| 4 ER & 4 WRC | € 1,660 |