By Simran Rai – 1 week intern

I first found KSES online and am so grateful to have been scrolling through volunteering opportunities that day to find this research project. I was already travelling through parts of Asia and knew Thailand was going to be my next destination so when I saw this sanctuary was Chiang Mai I knew I had to do it and it definitely didn’t disappoint.

My main research interests used to only focus on human behaviour and psychiatry until I started a research project a few years ago where I analysed the behaviour of rodents in a laboratory environment. This sparked my interest in animal behaviour but the welfare aspect of laboratory animals deterred me from considering a research career in this.

However, my time at KSES completely changed my perspective. I found myself deeply intrigued by field research, particularly in understanding elephant behaviour. The sanctuary provided a unique environment to observe them and I was fascinated learning the difference in how elephants behave, their intelligence and their interactions with each other especially the differences once they were introduced to this semi-wild environment compared to their captive environment. Laura was great in explaining all things elephant to me! I learned so much about elephant behaviour in this environment and its importance in the proper welfare of captive elephants.

The local Karen community welcomed me with open arms, adding to the richness of my experience. I was treated to delicious, hearty meals every day by my home stay. The local Karen people were incredibly friendly, and I even had the opportunity to learn some Karen phrases during my week-long stay.

My time at KSES was truly transformative, prompting me to reconsider my career path. I am now contemplating a return to animal behavior, this time in a wildlife setting rather than a laboratory.

All in all I have experienced so much in such a short time and would highly recommend booking your flight and coming to Kindred Spirit! I only wish I could’ve stayed for longer 🙂