The Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) is a registered charity focused on improving the health and welfare of elephants in Southern Thailand. The foundation offers free veterinary services to elephants in need—an essential initiative made possible by a dedicated group of animal advocates led by Thai founder, Jakrapob ‘Jake’ Thaotad.
Jake brings generations of experience with elephants, having grown up in a family that has cared for elephants for many years. Deeply passionate about their well-being, he co-founded Phang Nga Elephant Park with his cousin Lek in 2015 to champion ethical elephant tourism.
Building on that foundation, Jake established STEF in 2017. In addition to providing critical medical care for elephants, the charity also works to raise awareness among tourists and locals about the importance of responsible and compassionate elephant care.
What STEF does
- Free veterinary care: STEF provides free veterinary services to elephants in Southern Thailand. They operate a specialised elephant hospital near Khok Kloi in Phang Nga Province and run a mobile clinic to reach elephants in remote areas.
- Education and training: The foundation offers educational programs and collaborates with Thai universities to train the next generation of elephant veterinarians. They also provide international volunteer opportunities for veterinary students and professionals.
- Conservation efforts: STEF aims to promote the ethical treatment of Asian elephants using high welfare standards, with a strong focus on veterinary care and education.
- Emergency support: During the COVID-19 pandemic, STEF raised funds to deliver over 700 truckloads of feed to elephants whose owners were struggling to provide for them.
The elephant hospital near Khok Kloi in Phang Nga isn’t open to the public but visits by professional vets can be arranged. However, the nearby Phang Nga Elephant Park (run by STEF founder Khun Jake) is open to the public.
Supporting mahouts
The role of an elephant handler—known in Thai as a kwan chang or mahout—is vital to the well-being of domesticated elephants. In many cases, this role is inherited, passed down through generations, fostering a profound connection between handler and elephant. Unfortunately, some facilities employ untrained or inexperienced handlers, which can undermine the reputation of skilled mahouts who genuinely care for the animals. Supporting these knowledgeable and responsible handlers is one of the aims of STEF.
While the ideal scenario would see all elephants living freely in the wild, the current reality makes this unfeasible. Widespread deforestation, agricultural expansion, and the development of plantations have dramatically reduced the amount of natural forest habitat. Even if sufficient space were available, elephants raised in captivity often lack the skills needed to survive on their own in the wild.
For those who care about elephant welfare, addressing the issue requires a pragmatic approach. STEF collaborates with elephant owners to promote responsible care practices, offering education and free veterinary services to improve the lives of elephants within human care.
Education
In addition to delivering vital veterinary care, STEF places a strong emphasis on education as a driving force for long-term change. The foundation works closely with local communities, mahouts, and the broader public to promote greater awareness of elephant welfare. Through interactive workshops, hands-on training, and community-led initiatives, STEF fosters a culture of compassion and responsible care. These educational efforts play a key role in challenging outdated practices and inspiring a new generation to prioritise the ethical treatment of elephants.
Questions for STEF
The issue of elephants in tourism is multi-faceted. Although STEF is not connected with the tourism industry, they do provide an invaluable service for the welfare of elephants. STEF points out that they are not campaigners and exist to support Thailand’s captive elephants to ensure they receive access to any health care that they may need, free of charge. We asked the team at STEF for their thoughts on some key questions.
What would you like to see from Thai authorities to improve elephant welfare?
“We work closely with the Thai authorities enabling our sister charity, STEF Thailand (STEFT), to provide free veterinary care for elephants in Southern Thailand. STEFT has frequent exchanges of dialogue with a variety of groups, including the National Elephant Institute, the Elephant Section at Chiang Mai University and the government’s Krabi Elephant Hospital. Further government-funded collaborative work between groups such as these could help, for example, to more comprehensively regulate welfare standards at elephant camps and tourist attractions across Thailand. Closer monitoring of and guidance relating to the appropriate breeding of captive elephants in Thailand would also be beneficial to help protect the future of this endangered species.”
What is your response to people who say that all of Thailand’s captive elephants should be released into the wild?
“Sadly, this ideal is wholly unrealistic. Thailand is not much bigger than the United Kingdom and has a similar-sized human population. Thailand’s National Parks are home to some 3,500 wild elephants, but these parks are now at capacity. The remaining 3,000 or so domesticated elephants in Thailand would be unlikely to survive in the wild, even if there were space for them.”
What advice do you have for tourists who want to visit an ethical elephant sanctuary?
“We are not connected with the tourist industry, but we would always encourage tourists to seek to visit sanctuaries or parks where elephants are visibly in good health and where welfare and the ethical treatment of all animals come first.
All elephants in captivity must be treated with respect. Both human safety and the welfare of the elephant must be paramount.”
How to support STEF
STEF is primarily run by volunteers and relies on donations to continue its work. Support can be provided through donations, adopting an elephant or the vet volunteer program. More information is available on STEF’s official website and Facebook page:
Photos: Southern Thailand Elephant Foundation (STEF) Facebook page
