(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”.
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Jennifer Farley2023-02-18 09:07:552023-03-30 14:31:56My 6 Weeks with STEF – Week Six
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Jennifer Farley2023-02-11 08:24:132023-03-30 14:33:14My 6 Weeks with STEF – Week Five
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Jennifer Farley2023-02-04 08:38:362023-03-30 14:32:31My 6 Weeks with STEF – Week Four