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Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is how you learn from them. That’s why after undertaking research with World Animal Protection, in 2014 we became the first global travel company to ban elephant riding on our tours.
But just because we stopped riding elephants, it doesn’t mean all the issues around elephant welfare are solved. We realise there is plenty more that can be done.
That’s why we are getting behind initiatives that practice ethical elephant tourism in South East Asia – supporting the local people who work with the elephants with training and jobs, educating tourists and of course, caring for the elephants themselves.
How you can help
Through our not-for-profit The Intrepid Foundation we are working with MandaLao, the first non-riding elephant sanctuary in Luang Prabang, Laos. MandaLao provides travellers with the opportunity to connect with the elephants who roam freely through lush forest and the Nam Khan river.
We are working to raise funds to build a second elephant night enclosure, with mahout (elephant handler) housing, as well as constructing an elephant food storehouse and leasing more land for the elephants.
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Wildlife trips that put elephant welfare first
Seeing elephants up close doesn’t just have to take place in a sanctuary – there also plenty of ways to see these gentle giants responsibly in the wild too.
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Learn more about animal welfare on The Journal
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Aug 10, 2018
There are no winners in the elephant tourism...
Reading Time: 4 minutes There are no winners in the elephant tourism industry.
Aug 07, 2019
I rode an elephant for fun. Here’s why it was...
Reading Time: 5 minutes There used to be this widespread belief in the travel...
Aug 03, 2018
This is why we no longer ride elephants
Reading Time: 4 minutes Intrepid staff and travellers are a very passionate lot;...
Aug 10, 2018
How we changed the elephant riding industry
In 2014, we officially put a stop to elephant riding on all Intrepid trips. It was...
Aug 12, 2019
How a visit to Thailand’s Elephant Nature Park...
Reading Time: 5 minutes It’s a year since I spent a day at Elephant Nature Park,...
Mar 07, 2018
Tracking rhinos on foot in Uganda: one Intrepid...
Amazingly, we had encountered a large gathering of six or seven rhinos – adult...
Aug 29, 2017
Turtles and orangutans: witnessing wildlife...
Sabah, a Malaysian state on the northern tip of Borneo, is home to some pretty...
Aug 10, 2017
How you can engage in ethical elephant tourism:...
In 2014, Intrepid ended elephant riding on all trips after a report revealed...
There's more than one way to Be Responsible
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Be Fair
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Be Aware
Find out why we no longer visit orphanages on our trips, and learn more about our community development programs.
Be Sustainable
Learn more about what it means to be a B Corp certified company, and our stance on the environment and sustainability.