(for qualified vets only)
“The team could not have been more welcoming from the moment I arrived. We travelled to call outs and also treated elephants on site at the veterinary hospital. It was a fantastic opportunity to gain hands on experience with elephants.”
“I’m a third year veterinary student, and I volunteered for STEFT for two weeks, having never worked with elephants before. I was taken out every day seeing loads of cases, including clinical examinations, taking blood samples, blood and faeces analysis, and even a few emergency call outs in the evenings. I tried loads of new foods and met so many lovely people. I would definitely recommend this clinical placement.”
“Before going on the volunteer programme I was quite worried because I had never treated elephants before. But after reading Vanessa’s blogs” (see below) “and receiving a helpful email from Fang (the coordinator) I had a better idea of what to expect. Everyone was very welcoming when I arrived. The team soon taught me the basic information regarding elephant health and behaviour, and were happy to answer all my questions. Travelling around the southern part of Thailand to do annual health checks and some callouts was a fantastic experience. My one week went by in a flash, and I regretted not applying for more than a week. This is a once in a life time experience, and any veterinary student, nurse, or vet interested in elephants and wildlife should try this volunteer programme. You won’t regret it!”
“This experience was so great, I will never forget it. I learnt a lot about elephants and it helped me to shape my dream as a vet. It was a great experience to see how wildlife vets work. Also, it was great to learn a bit about Thai culture. The vets and staff were sooo great, always trying to teach me more and moreover, they helped me to learn and fit in with Thai culture.”
“I not only got the chance to learn about elephants but also Thai culture which I would never have gotten just visiting on my own. Everyone there is very welcoming and treats you like family. And they make sure you are very well fed even if you have dietary restrictions.”
“I got to spend the best week with the STEFT veterinary team, seeing many different elephants every day. Dr Aon and Fang were always open to answering questions, and explained everything in detail. Above all, their passion to help the huge animals stay healthy, and to educate mahuts was amazing and respectful.”
“I was able to see how veterinarians approach and treat diseases” and this is a “volunteer activity that I really want to recommend to veterinary students who dream of becoming a wildlife veterinarian”.
“Thank you so much for giving us such a precious experience.” It will be “unforgettable for the rest of my life”.
Something “you can’t experience anywhere else. I won’t forget it”.
“I’ll never forget this experience for the rest of my life! I really loved how responsible the vets are for their patients and I learned so much from their attitude”.
“It was a really good experience to go out and do health checks, and give treatments for the elephants” and I “will not forget this experience”.
I could see the daily routine of veterinarians, such as physical examinations at the center and drug manufacturing. I didn’t know much about elephants because I didn’t learn anything about them at all in the Korean veterinary school, but I had enough time to observe them and the teachers were kind, so I could ask questions without hesitation.
I was grateful to feel that the teachers were really kind and trying to give me many opportunities.
I was really moved because I could feel that all the employees truly loved elephants, and I admired their sincere attitude toward animals. Thank you for giving me this opportunity and it was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life. If I have a chance, I want to spend time with good people at a good center like this. Thank you.
It was good to know the process of curing elephants. It was an amazing experience because it was a course that I couldn’t learn in Korean universities.
I recommend this program to my friends around me. Thank you for making me an unforgettable experience in my life.
A week with STEFT was a BLAST!!
We were able to learn about the elephants from the beginning; their diets, average amounts of food/water they consume and etc. However, watching all different types of cases from different environments was the most exciting part of the program. Without STEFT, I would never have been able to learn this much about elephants and wildlife vet for such a short amount of time.. And of course, I love all of the staffs and members of STEFT!!
“During my STEFT experience I have been able to learn about elephant medicine and enjoy a less touristic experience, meeting the locals and learning about their lifestyle and delicious food. The staff has made everything easy and fun. I would definitely recommend this experience.”
“I learnt so much about both elephant medicine, health and conservation. I’m glad I was able to experience multiple aspects of what elephants are used for in Thailand including trekking, logging, and sanctuaries/parks. I am coming away from STEF with knowledge and experience that I couldn’t have received anywhere else.
Everyone at STEF was very nice and accommodating!”
