Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary jobs and careers

About Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary

Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary works in collaboration with Karen communities in Northern Thailand to support forest-based elephant living and locally led livelihood initiatives. Our elephants previously worked in tourism environments where their physical and behavioural needs could not be fully met. Today, they live within their natural forest habitat, moving, foraging, socialising and resting according to their own rhythms. Care is approached in a way that prioritises autonomy, space and long-term wellbeing. Rather than separating elephants from the people connected to them, we work alongside communities, other organisations, and elephant-owning families to create conditions that enable a gradual shift away from tourism-dependent models. This includes supporting diversified village income streams and developing approaches to elephant care rooted in local knowledge and lived experience. Thailand is home to approximately 4,500 elephants living under human care, many in environments that limit freedom of movement and natural behaviours. We believe meaningful change is most sustainable when it is community-led and context-specific, which is why our work centres on collaboration. Alongside daily elephant observation, we contribute to behavioural research to better understand natural activity patterns and inform welfare practices. We also engage in community initiatives, including educational support, and continue to evolve through partnerships grounded in mutual respect and shared learning.