To see these elephants in their natural habitat was just amazing

I still can't find the right words to describe how i felt when i first touched an elephant. I know about his previous life, forced labour, pain and torture. And I was so glad i could spend a full day with a bunch of rescued elephants in an ethical elephant sanctuary approx. 3 hours north of Chiang Mai.

Along the way to the Karen Hill Tribe Project we couldn't help to notice that there are a lot of tortured elephants that are ridden by tourists. Some elephants must walk around with whole families on their back. To do so and follow the orders of their mahouts they must be...broken. They use hooks as long as my forearm to get those gentle animals to do what they should - for the money of tourists who don't think twice about what this means for the elephants.

The elephants we met came from such cruel circumstances and were saved by the Karen Hill Tribe Project. You could see the difference in their behaviour, their lust for life and - that they are finally in a place where they can life without pain and fear.

For me it was an experience of a lifetime. It still brings tears to my eyes. I will cherish the memories I made this day forever.

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