Intrepid Travel will match donations to World Animal Protection Thailand dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 throughout June 2026, funding the shift of elephant tourism venues from rides and shows to sanctuary models.
Twelve years after becoming the first global tour operator to remove elephant rides from its trips, Intrepid Travel is putting money behind the next phase of elephant tourism welfare reform in Thailand, matching donations to World Animal Protection Thailand dollar-for-dollar up to $50,000 throughout June via its not-for-profit arm, The Intrepid Foundation.
The Room to Roam end-of-financial-year appeal will help fund the transition of elephant tourism venues from rides and performances to higher-welfare sanctuary models.
Donations are tax-deductible in Australia and the US, and Intrepid will absorb all administration costs, ensuring 100 per cent of donations go directly to the cause.
Why does elephant tourism in Thailand still need reform?
According to World Animal Protection’s latest assessment of Thailand’s captive elephant tourism industry, 2,849 elephants are held across 236 tourism venues in the country.
Has the industry genuinely changed or is it simply being marketed differently? While rides and shows have declined over the past decade, more than 1,200 elephants are still used for riding experiences and two-thirds are kept in conditions the charity considers poor for welfare outcomes.
Intrepid Travel General Manager Thailand Mike Stewart said: “This campaign supports practical solutions that improve elephant welfare while also supporting local communities and the livelihoods of elephant carers. It’s about creating a tourism model that benefits both people and animals.”
Where will the money go?
The campaign supports World Animal Protection’s goal of transitioning three elephant tourism venues in Thailand this year, enabling elephants to move freely, socialise naturally and live without forced interactions with tourists.
Funds raised will support venues like Ran-Tong Elephant Rescue Centre in Chiang Mai, home to 10 rescued elephants, with improvements including chain-free night enclosures, enrichment facilities and observation-only visitor experiences.
World Animal Protection Australia New Zealand Country Director Ben Pearson said: “Every elephant deserves the opportunity to express natural behaviours, socialise with other elephants and live free from exploitation.”
“This campaign will help more venues make the transition to higher-welfare models, creating better lives for elephants while meeting growing demand for responsible wildlife experiences.”
Thailand was the first destination Intrepid operated in when it launched in 1989, and the campaign builds on the company’s long-running responsible wildlife tourism stance.
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has disbursed more than $20 million to over 160 partners worldwide, and recently marked its biggest year of giving, distributing more than $3.4 million to 58 partner organisations across 45 countries in 2025.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Elephant encounters remain one of the most requested experiences in Thailand, one of Australia’s favourite outbound destinations, and traveller expectations around animal welfare keep rising. A decade after Intrepid pulled elephant rides from its trips, the wider market has followed, and campaigns like this show where responsible wildlife tourism is heading next.
