Thongsuk Elephant Park

Today what I saw made me sick to my stomach. We had this excursion included with a Khao Sok tour so we decided to give it a try. We were left feeling uncomfortable and guilty.please don’t come here, despite good reviews. The staff was weird and pushy, constantly trying to force us to grab on the elephants for photos. They kept telling us that it was okay because we weren’t riding them. Just because you don’t ride them doesn’t mean your practice is ethical. The elephants have ropes around their necks that the staff uses to push and pull them around. They use sticks to hit them to get them to do what they want. The elephants are forced to roll around in mud/dirt to get dirty, then forced to the water where they are also forced to sit in the water and lay there while tourists “wash” them. They don’t get out until they’re told, and when they do, they stand halfway out of the water until they’re told to do something else. It was creepy to watch all the elephants standing at attention in a line waiting for their next command instead of running freely and doing what they please. We got to feed the elephants 1 small basket of bananas each. When we were walking back to the lobby to leave, one of the elephants was trying to get into the other bananas, obviously wanting more to eat. The staff told the elephant no, took the banana from them, and pushed them away to continue walking.staff kept trying to get us to hug their trunks for photos, and even forced some elephants that were with different groups to do certain poses with them. Elephants have even been trained to step off the walking trail to poop in the grass? We visited a different elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai yesterday that was the complete opposite. They advertised swimming with them, but when the elephants didn’t want to swim, they said “sorry, we don’t force them to”. They let their elephants eat as much as they wanted, move freely, and they didn’t try to push us to grab them/pose with them for photos. We got to walk around the park freely with the elephants and watch them do whatever they wanted to. All in all, the great reviews for this establishment make my heart sad. Please, people, do more research. It’s very apparent that these elephants are not living as they should by any means. An elephant that is trained that well is not normal or natural.

After a visit here, I now have a new favorite animal. Never thought I'd be so fond of an elephant, but oh my. We had to make food for them and feed them. Then it was time for mud packing when we smeared them with mud. The elephants were frolicking and we had crazy fun. Then we went down to the river where the elephants lay down in the water and we scrubbed and rinsed off all the mud. It was so nice and even though the elephant keeper didn't understand English and I didn't know Thai, we laughed and still talked with gestures and sounds. My heart still warms when I think of my elephant and her caretaker.

I give it 3 stars only because, elephants should be free, iv been on safari. Its nice to be up close to a beautiful animal, washing them, looking into ther big dark eyes, they looked sad and thats hard for me to take. On my trip our guide was take to many pictures of each couple with each elephant 10 to 15 photos at each place (mud bath, feeding, bathing, then feeding again. This adds up to between 40- to - 60 pictures per couple? , 9 people in my group? These elephants looked well, n well looked after, but if you need any advice DO YOUR RESEARCH, because there's some elephant sanctuaries that don't have good reviews, take the time and read the bad reviews as well as the good.

Had a great day with the elephants and friendly team who showed us how to feed and wash the elephant. We visited with a guide as part of a wider tour, it helped having a guide with us as they could explain more about the elephants life and its environment. Memorable day out.

We were here as part of the Khao Sok eco tour. The first impression was initially positive. Of course, when we got out we were told where we could walk and where we shouldn't go because it was supposedly dangerous. Of course, in retrospect I know why we shouldn't go there. We were told a lot about the elephants in Thailand. On the one hand, they are sacred and on the other hand, they were released into the forests during the Corona pandemic, whereby half of the elephants starved to death because they never learned to look after themselves. Others have been slaughtered. Very holy! Then Corona will be over and they will be caught again and can amuse us tourists. What is the problem in creating an area in these huge forests where the elephants are cared for and they can move freely? It's probably enough just to be able to observe these animals. Thailand should do better in 2023. For me this is not animal protection. When we left this reserve, all I could see out the window was an elephant penned in a 2x2m gate and another was tied to a tree by its leg with such a short rope that it also couldn't move an inch. I could have puked. Everything here is more appearance than reality. Finally take better care of these wonderful animals and change your concepts. I could get really upset with you.

What a heart-warming experience, whilst also very educational at the same time. These are rescued, well-cared and loved elephants. For me, a very special 'tender' memory of my wonderful 4-week Thailand visit.

I am struggling to review this place due to the regret and guilt I have.

I will make it very simple, this is not a sanctuary, it is just a tourist attraction (or more like a tourist trap).

If you love animals don’t go. Spend your money more wisely.

It was recommended by ‘animals friendly’ Our Jungle Camp, where we’re staying so we didn’t think to question it. We should have done more research before going. The elephants are standing by the road before, tied to a tree and brought to the so called sanctuary every one hour, to do the bathing and feeding over and over again. When asked about their origin and life before the sanctuary, the staff says they were born there. Do not go, we left feeling guilty and ashamed.

Awesome experience. They take care of the elephants really well. There is a no riding policy. If you want to do it, do it with them

Unless you want to leave this experience riddled with guilt, DO NOT GO. We booked through our accommodation Our Jungle House. The park was listed as an “Elephant Sanctuary” and mentioned the strict no riding policy. Sanctuary is a glamorous term used to attract tourists and just because the elephants aren’t ridden doesn’t mean it’s an ethical park. Our elephant was swaying back and forth frequently throughout the experience (a sign of distress), the trainer was often squeezing and pulling the elephants ears and tail in order to stop it from exhibiting normal behavior. The elephant was forced to stop spraying itself with mud and water at the mud bath (the time it looked happiest) and was also forced to lay in a specific submerged position in the river despite trying multiple times to get up. Also every elephant has a rope around its neck and the trainers carry sticks to poke and prod. These elephants may have been rescued from someplace worse, however they are still being put in stressful situations unnatural to them to entertain. For elephants to learn tricks, abuse takes place. It’s psychologically abusive to make them continue with this behavior after being “rescued. ” Please don’t make the mistake I did. Do your research. If you’re touching, feeding, swimming with these creatures, they’re stressed. No endearing word in the description or name of the park can make it ethical……

Horrible.
Chained an elephant at the side of the road a few kilometers before the camp as a sort of live advertisement.
The rest of the elephants in the camp were either chained or couped up in a tiny enclosement.
Just a bloody primitive way of treating animals.
Please put this place out of bussiness!

Great place for the children. It seem that elephants are treated quite well. At least I hope so.

One of the best experiences of my life! An amazing sanctuary didn't want to leave! Hope to return

They abuse the elephants. Make them do tricks for kids. In order for the elephants to do these tricks they must be broken down in spirit so they feel like they do not want to live, In order to be controlled by humans.

When we went to Bath the elephants you could feel an energy from them which was sad. They were shouted at and not even allowed to eat a leaf from the sides when taken back. The controllers had sticks.

Not for animal lovers.

Animal cruelty! This is not an Elephant Park, the elephants are held in captivity in the people's garden.
What I saw disturbed me and filled my eyes with tears: the elephants are treated horribly there! In the hot sun with no water to drink, elephants are tied up, pushed, hit with sticks and poked to do cheap tricks for tourist photos. They look like slaves when they are rushed to the water to have a bath while being shouted at when they want to stop to eat some leaves. The elephants appeared lifeless, as if just going through the motions to avoid punishment. They are being forced to lay in a certain position in the water and do tricks for the tourists.
My heart was breaking to see these huge, magestic, intelligent animals being treated like this. Some of them clearly lost it in that place and were just constantly swingning from side to side just like people in mental hospitals. They also looked ill and not well looked after. It is a money making tourist trap at the expense of animals.
PLEASE DO NOT GO THERE. DO NOT SUPPORT THIS CRUELTY.

The elephants Are not free, but have to do as the humans direct them to do. When the animals want to go the trainers force it to stay and to be petted by the tourists. Do not support this facility

Can't say this place close to anything. For me it's in the middle of nowhere. But experience you'll get there worth a trip you'd make. First of all there are lot of elephants of different ages. We were lucky to wash 12 y.o. Elephant girl. It's really incredible feeling to rub it's hard and hairy skin with brush and understand the might and power of this animal.
Price is reasonable too. We've come by ourselves and paid only 600 bahts per person.

I’m not a believer in elephant ‘sanctuaries’ as they are more for tourists than the elephants themselves. However, having had the pleasure of coming here with my girlfriend, I had a truly magical morning. You can really tell that the elephants are happy here, even if it isn’t ‘natural’, and it appears to be a great place for those elephants who require human interaction due to cruel, previous actions. If you’re in Khao sok for the elephants, come here!

I love it how they finally understand not to use elephant for tourist rides, but love them and prepare supp food for them and take a mud bath with them