Our Story
Founded on patience and peace and built through hard work and trust
We are a foundation that works through groundbreaking collaborations with local communities fostering harmony and protecting Asian elephants and the communities that coexist with them.
Foundation History:
Mahouts Elephant Foundation was founded by the Blaine family from England - Sarah, Felix, Joe and Natasha - who are impassioned about the natural world and all animals. In 2008 they travelled to Thailand and part of this trip was spent at a volunteer project which would change their lives forever.
They learned so much about Elephants working in the tourism industry in Thailand. The industry often unknowingly forces mahouts and their families into a desperate poverty trap that few can escape, meaning the families are impoverished and the welfare of the elephant is compromised.
After a decade of experiencing all sides to this complex story, Sarah and Felix Blaine teamed up with the people who know the issues intimately but are often left out of conversations, Karen indigenous communities. Together, they came up with community driven solutions that allow mahouts and elephants to thrive together.
Our Work
We work with a unique safari-style model of elephant tourism in direct partnership with Karen indigenous communities, empowering them with the tools they need to support their families and their elephants in their home village, rather than selling their elephants or employing them to work near big cities.
THIS MULTIFACETED APPROACH ACHIEVES MANY THINGS
It cuts off the supply of elephants to the tourism industry, stops the demand of tourists by offering ethical alternatives, brings a sustainable source of income to impoverished communities, and provides science-based evidence showing good elephant welfare.
We complement our community based tourism model with a scientific research program collaborating with international experts to expand the current body of knowledge on Asian elephant behaviour and biology.
We partner with progressive companies and industry stakeholders to leverage much needed funding for work with unparalleled impact and potential. If you are interested in learning more about the CSR and PR benefits of a Mahouts Elephant Foundation Partnership, contact sarah@mahouts.org
International Work
We work widely to raise awareness speaking at events and conferences raising awareness about the welfare issues facing captive working Asian elephants and the poverty trap their mahouts find themselves in. Co Founder and CEO Sarah Blaine has spoken for many years at leading international conferences and events including PAWS California, Animals in Tourism event in London, at the AITO conference, a conference in Vietnam and at the annual ABTA animals in tourism workshop.
Tourist Industry
We have worked for many years forging positive long term relationships within the tourist industry, we have a good relationship with many international tour companies and ground operators.
Why we are needed
Logging was banned in Thailand in 1989 leaving 2,000 mahouts out of work and unable to generate the income required to take care of their elephants. The rise of commercial elephant tourism quickly followed and the industry grew.
industry facts
75% of captive elephants live in poor welfare conditions
There are more captive elephants than wild elephants left in Thailand
With the loss of free-ranging elephants, their habitat is left for exploitation – the forest needs elephants as much as the elephants need forest.
tourism in southeast asia is huge
Thailand receives millions tourists per year, visitors are rising. This enormous industry has the potential to be a powerful force for positive change in the conservation and welfare of elephants and empowerment of local people.
By visiting our projects on the ground, you are directly helping make a difference.
