Location
Type of Animals Involved
Elephants, also cats, dogs, and monkey’s
Extent of Contact
I visited ENP in April 2015. We would prepare food for the elephants, walk with them and then feed them, we were also allowed to go in the river and wash the them, but things have changed since then and there’s less contact now. Volunteers no longer go in the river and bathe them, I don’t know if they still walk with themvisited ENP in April 2015. We would prepare food for the elephants, walk with them and then feed them, we were also allowed to go in the river and wash the them, but things have changed since then and there’s less contact now. Volunteers no longer go in the river and bathe them, I don’t know if they still walk with them
Unnatural Behaviour
The elephants are allowed to live as naturally as possible, they are not made to perform in any way. Riding them is not allowed
Instruments of Control or Restraint
Bullhooks are not permitted, the elephants have a lot of freedom, the mahouts guide them to the river and for walks using food
Overall Impression
On the first day, I was collected from my hostel and taken to the ENP office where we were transferred to mini buses and taken to ENP. Enroute we watched heartbreaking videos of how elephants are trained. I wondered if I’d done the right thing, what was I letting myself in for?
When we arrived we were given our rooms and put into teams. I was a single traveller, so I shared a room with another single girl.
Each team had a daily job to do and the teams are rotated.each day.
You might prepare food, maybe clean up the park. Clear out the elephant ‘bedrooms’ or go and cut corn! I will never forget corn day, its roasting hot and you’re covered from head to toe, it’s exhausting.
Then there’s the food that’s provided for the volunteers and visitors, all vegan, all delicious and plenty of it.
There’s usually the option of helping out with the dogs aswell. You might even bring one home like I did 
As corny as it sounds, ENP was life changing for me. It was the best thing I’d ever done. I was there in 2015 and they are much less hands on now. I know that you cannot bathe with them in the river anymore. If you get the opportunity to go to any of the ENP projects, you won’t regret it 
