Elephants of Southeast Asia
Cambodia & Thailand
Spend your summer exploring some of the remote regions of Southeast Asia where the elephants roam. In Cambodia, the lush Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary will be your base, studying the behavior, ecology, and welfare needs of the endangered Asian elephant. Visit the vibrant city of Phnom Penh and the ancient temples of Angkor to explore the history and culture of Cambodia.
- In Thailand, delve into human-wildlife conflict and conservation pressures and examine elephant management practices while you are based in a village bordering KuiBuri National Park. Complete your journey in the vibrant hustle and bustle of Bangkok. Stay at the Elephant Valley Project (EVP) in the forested Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary to observe semi-wild, rehabilitated, Asian elephants from meters away as they forage, bathe, and interact with each other in a protected setting.
- Stay at Bring the Elephants Home (BTEH) in homestays in Ruam Thai village next to the world reknown Kuiburi National Park where you are guaranteed to see wild elephants on safari tours and when crop-raiding.
Application deadline:
April 1
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
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Academics
This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in Cambodia. Read more about the SFS program model.
Major academic themes include:
*Asian elephant behavior, ecology, health and welfare in Cambodia and Thailand’s mountain range ecosystems
*The role of elephants in local culture
*Human-elephant interaction and conflicts
*Wildlife management policies
*Conservation strategies
Where You'll Be Living
The home base for this program is in two key locations, the first is in the heart of the Mondulkiri highlands in Eastern Cambodia set on the slopes of the Elephant Valley. Here you can watch the sunset over the forest and wake up to the sounds of gibbons and myriad of birdlife – from eagles to hornbills. The second is in Southwestern Thailand in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, where you will be hosted by BTEH and local families who are directly impacted by human-elephant conflict. Spend a portion of the program at the SFS Center in Siem Reap, located near the famed temples of Angkor and finish your 6-week visit immersing yourself in the bright lights of Bangkok.
*Dorm living with 4-person bunkrooms
*Homestays with 2-3 students and staff
*Lounge and study areas
*The forest is at your doorstep
*Open-air dining and kitchen area, Cambodian and Thai flavorful dishes
