At Mahouts Elephant Foundation the elephants have 90,000 acres of cloud forest to roam free in. It was really uplifting to see them living in the habitat where they belong, able to display natural behaviours and avoid human contact. The foundation was set up in 2015 by Sarah Blaine and her family from England when they rescued two elephants. The foundation works in partnership with mahouts and their families, enabling them to live nearby their elephants in their home village.

People who pay to experience the work of the foundation provide an important source of income to the villagers. The Karen people I stayed with were very friendly and welcoming. It was an honour to be immersed in their lives for a few days, seeing their culture and how they live and thrive around the elephants with the help of the foundation.