Elephant World is situated in Baan Ta Klang Village, Surin Province, Thailand, nestled within the heart of ethnic Kuy communities who have lovingly cared for and nurtured elephants for generations. Here, these gentle giants are cherished as family.

Surin is home to the largest population of captive elephants in Thailand, with a deep-rooted tradition of reverence and care for these majestic animals. In 2006, the vision emerged to return Surin’s elephants to their ancestral homeland. This vision culminated in 2017 with the launch of the "Elephant World" project, overseen by the Surin Provincial Administrative Organization.

The "Elephant World" project is a groundbreaking initiative aimed at transforming Surin into a premier elephant sanctuary and ecotourism destination. It seeks to create a comprehensive and immersive experience that seamlessly integrates conservation with cultural preservation, reflecting a commitment to enhancing the well-being of both wildlife and the environment.

Once a lush land of expansive forests, Surin has faced severe challenges due to economic growth and widespread deforestation. Over the past 50 years, the destruction of elephant habitats and disruption of hydrological systems have led to critical shortages of both food and water for elephants. The Kui people and their elephants have suffered from droughts and a lack of the food and medicinal plants that the forests once provided. The project was launched in response to a critical issue: many mahouts (traditional Thai caretakers of elephants) struggled with limited resources and were unable to properly care for their elephants. To survive, they took their elephants to big cities for tourism, which led to frequent accidents and dangerous encounters between elephants and humans due to a lack of regulations.

In 2005-2006, a member of the Royal Family intervened to address this issue by creating a project that would return these elephants to their natural habitat, providing them with meaningful work and land to grow their own food. This pioneering initiative aims to transform Surin into a leading elephant sanctuary and ecotourism destination within the Dong Phu Din National Forest Reserve. Covering over three thousand rai (1,200 acres), the project will create a holistic elephant attraction that seamlessly integrates conservation with cultural preservation. It embodies the concept of actively contributing to the well-being of both wildlife and the environment.

Since its inception, the Surin government has set aside over 2,000 acres of land for elephants and their mahouts and is working with local partners to reforest this area, which will, over time, provide a rich and varied source of food for the elephants. Elephant husbandry is deeply ingrained in Thai culture, and the Elephant World Project works closely with the local community to implement positive and lasting changes in traditional elephant management.

Elephant World ensures that the Kui and their elephants benefit from a stable income through monthly salaries, while upholding strict standards that promote sustainable living and the ethical care of elephants. For the Kui, elephants are an integral part of their cultural fabric. By returning to their ancestral land, they can preserve and pass on their cherished traditions to future generations.