About Us
Mission
In collaboration with local Karen communities, we work towards sustainable solutions that benefit both people and wildlife. Alongside improving elephant welfare, we focus on protecting habitats and promoting biodiversity for a healthier environment for all. Upholding ethical and legal standards, we are fully licensed with all necessary Thai permits and certified by the Livestock Department under the GAP program, guaranteeing responsible and high-quality animal care. To respect the elephants’ space and ensure safety, we do not allow physical interaction between visitors and elephants, and we do not support elephant rides or performances.
Responsible Thailand Community Based Tourism Award
The World Responsible Tourism Animal Welfare Award
Thailand Green Excellence Animal Welfare Award
OUR WORK IN ACTION
We support elephants by working from the roots up—partnering with local communities. We provide alternative income solutions and build strong relationships. Beyond elephants, we care for the village and forest.
With little research on Asian elephants, our studies help improve elephant welfare across Asia. Our visitors and interns learn from our work and spread awareness globally, driving positive change.
We are proud to be supported by reputable organisations like World Animal Protection (WAP) and FAADA, which recognise our commitment to high-welfare elephant care and conservation.
Our impact
6 elephants in 4 generations
200 Karen people we live with in our village
4,000 acres of community forest for the elephants to roam in
OUR TEAM
It’s all about people…
We are a small organisation, living and working together like a family. We support each other, the local Karen communities, and the animals and nature around us.
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Cristina, Co-Director of Kindred Spirit Elephant Sanctuary, is originally from the North of Spain, holds a bachelor's degree in Human Resources Management and an international diploma in biodiversity and conservation. She also has a background in the tourism industry and education, further enhancing her skills in communication and advocacy. Her hobbies include organic farming, yoga, as she is a certified yoga teacher, and cooking. She travelled to Thailand in 2015 where she began her journey working with captive elephants. This first experience was eye-opening, exposing her to the harsh reality faced by Asian elephants in captivity. Since then, Cristina has worked on various projects, advised centres seeking ethical improvements, collaborated with NGOs, and visited dozens of different centres across Southeast Asia. Cristina remains committed to raising awareness and advocating for the ethical treatment of elephants, striving to create positive change in the tourism industry.
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Our Co-Director Jasmin is Italian/Slovenian, and has a degree in tourism and a master degree in event management. Jasmin first joined us as a placement intern in 2022, whilst also completing an elephant internship through a partner organisation, and ended up joining our team fulltime later in the year as Guest Coordinator. Jasmin speaks four languages and can often be found avoiding rice and snacking on some popcorn.
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Neung is a man of many talents! In addition to coordinating our transportation logistics, he serves as the manager for our Gibbon Encounters initiative. Hailing from the Karen village where this project is rooted, Neung possesses profound knowledge of Karen and Thai culture, alongside expertise in gibbons. Fluent in English, he takes delight in connecting with each of our guests on a personal level. He is passionate about his community and helping the local people, to not only preserve their culture, but to preserve the forest and the wildlife there too.
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Kanda is our Activities and Community Relations Coordinator, and has spent her life surrounded by elephants. She grew up in the Karen village our sanctuary is set in, but has spent most of her time studying. Now that she is back home in her village with her family, she is very keen to join our project and teach our guests and interns about the Karen way of life. In her spare time, she can be found weaving and embroidering the traditional Karen shirts, skirts and bags
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Our research and intern coordinator, Lacey, comes from Florida, USA and has a degree in zoo animal technology. She has a background in animal management and conservation breeding, having worked with various taxa in a zoological setting. She started as a research intern at KSES and fell in love with the biodiversity Thailand offers, as well as the elephants. In her free time, you can find her fiddling with the guitar and playing with the dogs.
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Our Guest Coordinator, Maria, is Polish and holds a degree in Multimedia Design and Digital Concept Development. She has a background in local community development and Erasmus+ NGO projects and was previously a Research Intern at our sanctuary. She enjoys exploring various art mediums, including painting, dancing, and repurposing natural resources.
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Sagluh is our head mahout and the care taker of Dodo, who have been together for many years. Sagluh has been an integral part of our project since its inception, and has a gentle and nurturing nature, especially with the elephants who he often brings treats for. Despite his young age, Sagluh possesses a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the realm of elephant care, making him a valuable resource for fellow mahouts. Watching the interactions between Suh Gluh and Dodo is always a favorite from our visitors.
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The most important members of our team are the mahouts, or elephant caretakers, who dedicate their days to the welfare of our elephants and ensure their safe exploration of their natural environment. they are caretakers, advocates, educators, and experts who contribute significantly to the well-being and protection of elephants, whether in captivity or in the wild. Their knowledge, experience, and dedication are critical components of successful conservation efforts.
MEET OUR ELEPHANTS
Our herd is a family of six elephants spanning four generations. Each has their own story, from past hardships in logging and tourism to a new life in the forest. Get to know them and see how they thrive in their natural habitat.