Overview

Happy Elephants gives refuge to domesticated elephants that have been used in the logging and tourism industries and many of the elephants arrive with severe health problems and the scars of previous abuse. Elephants have been rescued from begging on the streets of big cities, circuses, and elephant riding camps. The aim for us here at Happy Elephants is to ensure that the elephants spend the rest of their lives in a sanctuary as closer to their natural environment as much as possible.

The main Elephant Care volunteer tasks are:

Preparing and feeding medicine and vitamins to the elephants

Vet check with the support of the Mahouts.

Preparing and distributing food for the elephants

Hosing down and washing the elephants

Cleaning the enclosures and grounds

Creating enrichments for the elephants

Preparing of banana plants for elephants’ consumption

Using elephant by-product, creating fertilizer for organic farming

Tending to the nearby vegetable eco-farm using the elephant dung as fertilizer

You will work in small teams with a team leader (usually another volunteer), learning most things whilst doing them. You will be working in very close or direct contact with the elephants and, for your own and others' safety, you must be aware of the risks and follow all instructions. This project is ideal for stays of 1-6 weeks. If you have 6 weeks or longer we would recommend combining this role with the Wildlife Rescue role which is based at the same centre.

For those who stay with us for longer than 4 weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to be trained as a mahout (Elephant Caretaker). By being a mahout, you’ll be able to learn the language and talk to the elephants. If the elephants take a liking to you, they may even want to play with you like an oversized puppy!

If you wish, you also have the opportunity to experience 100% organic vegetation at our ‘Dambulla Eco Farm’ for minimum of 2 days. There, you have the opportunity to become an organic farmer and enjoy pesticide and chemical fertilizer free products.

For an additional small fee, home-stay style accommodation and food will be provided for you near the elephants or Dambulla Eco Farm.


Your typical day

Volunteers work a 6 day working week from about 6.30am-5pm on a rotation basis and a working day typically follows this schedule:

  • 06:30 AM - 08:00 AM -> Volunteering

  • 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM -> Breakfast

  • 09:00 AM - 12:00 AM -> Volunteering

  • 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM -> Lunch

  • 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM -> Volunteering

  • 06:00 PM - ............... -> Dinner & Relax

For the rest of your stay

The Elephants only...

sleep around 4 hours a day, so the Mahouts are up and about at sunrise to start their day with the Elephants. This involves feeding and bathing the elephants before the visitors arrive at the camp. You will have time to have water fights with these incredible animals, bathe them and at the same time have lots of fun.

Elephants eat around...

10% of their body weight which is around 250 kilograms of corn and grass every day for an average-sized elephant. They must constantly eat throughout the day so they can absorb as many nutrients from the food as they can. Sourcing food for the elephants will be one of the many daily tasks you will undertake with the Mahouts.

While they are eating...

you will have time to take a rest with a delicious breakfast made from the kitchen staff at the camp. Your duties will vary and change every day depending on the elephants and camp’s needs. Cleaning, maintenance, learning how to cook Sri Lankan meal and care for the elephants are just some of the aspects of being a volunteer at the Happy Elephants.

Evening time is...

when you can meet other volunteers and socialize with local staff. The village around the camp is home to the mahouts and their families and another place where you can enhance your experience as volunteer. There are all kinds of ways you can help on this front, for example teaching English in the local school.

You will be supported...

by the team at the center which includes several international and Sri Lankan coordinators who are responsible for managing volunteers and the daily work of the wildlife and elephant teams.



Volunteer Form