Hutsadin Elephant Foundation: Encountering Rescued Gentle Giants (Review)

It would never cross our wildest imaginations to encounter and interact with a live elephant–at least for the millennial parents such as ourselves. While massive elephant shows are popular in Thailand, we are happy to choose the kinder way of mingling with these gentle giants through the Hutsadin Elephant Foundation in Hua Hin.

Little boy visiting Hutsadin Elephant Foundation — Say hello to Boon Mee the Elephant

The Hutsadin Elephant foundation is a wildlife refuge that rescues mistreated and abandoned elephants in Thailand. It’s a non-profit organization that brings employment to locals and restores elephants that were otherwise left for dead to better health.

Boon Mee the rescued elephant in hutsadin elephant foundation — Boon Mee the Elephant. His tusks were hacked short by poachers.

The foundation offers activities for families such as showering the elephants, feeding (a basket heaping of fruits and vegetables for the elephants).

A mahout showing visitors how to feed elephants — A mahout cares for the elephant and guides visitors throughout the activities

Feeding fruits and veggies to the elephants — Guests can buy a basket of fruits and vegetables to feed the elephant.

Our son loved feeding Boon Mee the elephant

Our experience was one for the books, especially for our son, Tikoy, a fan of Horton, the elephant. As a parent, we would love to instill kindness for animals in our little boy by introducing efforts like these, not to mention creating fun experiences for him to remember.