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Single-Use Species: The Impact of Plastic & Other Environmental Waste on Elephants in Thailand The catastrophic impact caused by the human species on the environment of our planet is indisputable. Anthropogenic, or man-made, climate change is now progressing at an extremely alarming rate, and the future of all species is in jeopardy. In addition to […]

Endangered Species Definition: A species which is facing a very high risk of extinction in the near future. In the context of wildlife conservation, perhaps the most widely known designation is that of endangered species. Though at a rudimentary level it is easily understood, “endangered” is often misused. Classifying a species as endangered requires specialised assessment […]

An Introduction to the Five Freedoms & Five Domains Models of Animal Welfare Although animals have been domesticated and lived alongside humans for millennia, animal welfare as a scientific concept is a shockingly recent development. Attempts to adequately define animal welfare – and to identify and codify its constituent elements for the benefit of domestic […]

A Secret Language: Infrasonic Communication in Elephants Elephants are highly intelligent, complex, and social animals, with intricate herd dynamics. They have evolved advanced communication abilities, and use a vast array of techniques to convey messages to other elephants, not only in their immediate vicinity, but sometimes across great distances. We have previously discussed the general […]

Elephants in Belief, Ritual, and Ceremony in Thailand The elephant, as both animal and symbol, is inextricably woven into the fabric of human spiritual belief in many parts of the world. Represented in formal religious traditions, mythologies, folklore, superstitions, animism, and magical practices, elephants have, for millennia, captivated us with their immense power, poise, and […]

Elephants: Domestic or Captive? The relationship between Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) and humans has a long, complex, and partially obscure history. It is not known when the first elephant was captured or kept by humans, but it is generally agreed that the earliest known representations of elephants in captivity have been found on seals from […]

Thai Elephant-Assisted Therapy Research Outcomes in Autistic Individuals Please Note: The information provided herein is for informational purposes only. The Care Project Foundation (TCPF) is in no way affiliated with any animal-assisted therapy organisation or individual researcher, nor do we provide therapy sessions or participate in related research projects. We intend simply to spread awareness […]

Key Factors Impacting Domestic Asian Elephant Welfare (Part II) A huge variety of factors play a role in determining the health and wellbeing of domestic elephants, many of which can be controlled, to some extent, by humans. Because elephant welfare depends greatly on human actions, Mahouts (elephant caretakers), elephant owners, and others involved in the […]

Key Factors Impacting Domestic Asian Elephant Welfare (Part I) In Thailand, according to a 2020 study, there are approximately 7,000 Asian elephants, with just under 4,000 being domestic or captive, and the remaining 3,000-3,500 being wild. Domestic elephants comprise a significant and highly important percentage of the overall elephant population, and as such, their welfare […]

Communication in Asian Elephants Asian elephants are highly intelligent creatures with complex social lives and a hierarchical herd structure. To facilitate the creation and maintenance of such intricate social interaction, elephants have evolved a broad array of communication methods and techniques. These include communication methods which utilise senses we are familiar with as humans – […]