Elephant Conservation Center

03/06/2026

🎬 BEHIND THE SCENE – Episode 01: Blood Test 🩸

At the Elephant Conservation Center, blood tests play an important role in elephant healthcare and conservation.

By analysing blood samples, our veterinary team can monitor an elephant's overall health, detect potential issues, and gain valuable insights into their physiology.

These blood samples also allow us to monitor hormone levels. By tracking hormonal changes throughout the reproductive cycle, we can better understand when female elephants are ready to breed and identify the most suitable time for introducing them to a male as part of our breeding programme.

Behind every blood sample lies a wealth of information that helps us better understand, protect, and conserve this endangered species. 🐘

01/06/2026

Happy International Children's Day!

Since 2012, Kids in Conservation programme has introduced thousands of young Lao students to the importance of elephants, forests, and biodiversity.

Through hands-on activities, nature exploration, and environmental education, children discover how they can play a role in protecting Laos’ natural heritage.

For 2026–2027, our goal is:

50 educational sessions
1,000 Lao students reached

Every contribution helps us provide educational materials, organise field activities, and give more children the opportunity to connect with nature and conservation.

Support Kids in Conservation today and help us reach 1,000 Lao students:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/kids-in-conservation-educate-children-save-elephants

Because conservation starts with education.🍃

29/05/2026

The trunk is a unique anatomical feature that serves as a multifunctional tool and plays a crucial role in an elephant’s daily life.

Formed by the fusion of the nose and upper lip, it contains more than 40,000 muscles. From breathing and detecting scents to feeding, drinking, social interactions and protection, the trunk is one of the most complex organs in the animal kingdom.

Understanding elephant anatomy provides valuable insight into the complexity of this species and the challenges involved in its conservation.

Swipe through to learn more about one of nature's most remarkable tools.

FR :

La trompe est une caractéristique anatomique unique qui constitue un outil multifonctionnel et joue un rôle essentiel dans la vie quotidienne des éléphants.

Issue de la fusion du nez et de la lèvre supérieure, elle contient plus de 40 000 muscles. De la respiration et de la détection des odeurs à l’alimentation, l’hydratation, les interactions sociales et la protection, la trompe est l’un des organes les plus complexes du règne animal.

Comprendre l’anatomie des éléphants permet de mieux saisir la complexité de cette espèce ainsi que les enjeux liés à sa conservation.

Faites défiler les slides pour découvrir l’un des outils les plus remarquables de la nature.

26/05/2026

Why are elephants called the “Guardians of the Forest”?

Elephants are much more than iconic animals.

They are true ecosystem engineers, shaping and maintaining the forests they live in every single day.

From spreading seeds and opening the canopy, to creating natural pathways and water reservoirs, their presence supports countless other species and helps forests stay healthy. 🌱

Protecting elephants also means protecting biodiversity, climate, and entire ecosystems.

Swipe through to discover some of the incredible ways elephants help forests thrive 🐘

22/05/2026

EN :

Through this new series, we’re giving the floor to our guests to share their emotions, reflections, and memories at the Elephant Conservation Center in Laos 🐘

Here is the first episode, with the question:
“How would you describe this experience in one word?”

A story of nature, connection, and harmony. 🍃

FR :

À travers cette nouvelle série, nous donnons la parole à nos visiteurs pour partager leurs émotions, leurs réflexions et leurs souvenirs au Elephant Conservation Center au Laos 🐘

Voici le premier épisode, autour de la question :
« Comment décririez-vous cette expérience en un mot ? »

Une histoire de nature, de connexion et d’harmonie .🍃

19/05/2026

Male elephants are often the forgotten individuals of elephant conservation.

Considered difficult to manage and potentially dangerous, many facilities avoid keeping bulls altogether.

At the Elephant Conservation Center, we believe male elephants deserve social connection and care just like any other elephant.

Discover our work at the male socialization area, where behavioral observation helps us better understand elephant welfare and social dynamics.

By rebuilding social connections between males raised in isolation, we aim to improve their wellbeing and prepare them for a life closer to the wild. 🐘

15/05/2026

🐘 Our Instagram was permanently disabled. Again. This time, we're asking publicly for help.

On April 30th, Meta permanently disabled our Instagram account — as well as our back up for the second time in six months.

No warning. No clear explanation. No possibility to appeal.

The reason given? That we are a “dangerous organization.”

𝗪𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗼𝘀’ 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹.
𝗪𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟳 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝟱𝟰𝟬-𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲.
𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝘃𝗮𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟱 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀.

Dangerous… to whom?

The first time this happened, our account was eventually restored without explanation. Now it has been removed again.

At this stage, we genuinely do not understand how a recognised conservation organisation can repeatedly be flagged this way. Whether this is the result of automated moderation, coordinated malicious reporting, or another issue entirely – we urgently need a real human review of our case.

𝗪𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗮𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀.

𝗦𝗼 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗹𝘆.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘆 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆:
📩 [email protected]

If you can help:

👉 Tag someone at Meta
👉 Share this post
👉 Help us reach a human being

Thank you for standing with us. 🙏

FR:
🐘 Notre compte Instagram a été définitivement désactivé. Une fois de plus. Cette fois-ci, nous demandons de l'aide publiquement.

Le 30 avril, Meta a désactivé définitivement notre compte Instagram — ainsi que notre compte de secours — pour la deuxième fois en six mois.

Aucun avertissement. Aucune explication claire. Aucune possibilité de faire appel.

La raison donnée ? Nous somme apparemment « une organisation dangereuse ».

𝗡𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗴𝗲́𝗿𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘂𝗹 𝗵𝗼̂𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲́𝗹𝗲́𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝘂 𝗟𝗮𝗼𝘀.
𝗡𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲 𝟮𝟳 𝗲́𝗹𝗲́𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝗿𝗲́𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗲̀𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲́𝗴𝗲́𝗲 𝗱𝗲 𝟱𝟰𝟬 𝗵𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀.
𝗡𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲, 𝗱𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝘃𝗲́𝘁𝗲́𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝘁 𝗱𝗲 𝗿𝗲́𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘂𝘃𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗲́𝗱𝗶𝗲́𝘀 𝗮̀ 𝗹𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘀 𝗲́𝗹𝗲́𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱’𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗲 𝗮𝘂 𝗟𝗮𝗼𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝘂𝗶𝘀 𝟮𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝘀.

Dangereux… pour qui ?

La première fois que cela s’est produit, notre compte a finalement été rétabli sans aucune explication. Aujourd’hui, il a de nouveau été supprimé.

À ce stade, nous ne comprenons sincèrement pas comment une organisation de conservation reconnue peut être signalée de manière répétée et suspendue de cette façon. Qu’il s’agisse d’une erreur de modération automatisée, d’une campagne de signalements malveillants, ou d’un autre problème — nous avons urgemment besoin qu’un humain et non un bot examine notre dossier.

𝗡𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗲́𝗽𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲́ 𝘁𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝘀 𝗮̀ 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

𝗔𝘂𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗱’𝗵𝘂𝗶, 𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰̧𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗰 𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝗮̀ 𝗹’𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲.

𝗦𝗶 𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘇 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘇 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗮, 𝘀𝗶 𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗮𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘇 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹𝗾𝘂’𝘂𝗻 𝗾𝘂𝗶 𝘆 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲, 𝗼𝘂 𝘀𝗶 𝘃𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘃𝗲𝘇 𝘂𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗾𝘂𝗶 𝗽𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗮𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮̀ 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶 𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱’𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲:
📩 [email protected]

Pour nous aider:

👉 Identifiez quelqu’un chez Meta
👉 Partagez cette publication
👉 Aidez-nous à atteindre un véritable interlocuteur humain chez Meta

Merci de nous soutenir. 🙏

12/05/2026

How should elephants be managed at night?
People often ask: “Should elephants sleep in forests or in enclosures at night?”
The answer is more complex than many think.

Asian elephants eat up to 300 kg of vegetation per 24 hours and spend most of their lives foraging.
In the wild, they walk long distances and feed on a huge variety of plants.
At some elephant facilities in Asia, elephants stay in natural forest areas overnight, sometimes secured on long chains (30-50m) in environments without fences to ensure basic safety for elephants and local people.

While chaining is not ideal, this system can still allow elephants to:
• Forage naturally
• Move around on soft forest ground
• Stay mentally stimulated
• Modify their environment and resting area to their individual needs
• Express more natural behaviours

Other facilities use enclosures or shelters with hand-feeding, which can offer several advantages for management and safety. Elephants are easier to monitor at night in enclosures/shelters, especially if sick, they do not need to be physically restrained, and if enclosures/shelters are large enough, compatible elephants can remain in social groups with free physical contact.

However, if not carefully managed, this system may limit access to natural dietary diversity and reduce opportunities for self-directed foraging behaviour. In some facilities, enclosures/shelters are built with concrete or other hard surfaces for hygiene purposes, which can negatively affect foot health if proper substrate, exercise, and foot care are not provided. Limited enrichment may also reduce behavioural stimulation and increase the risk of boredom or stereotypic behaviours.

The most important question is not simply “chains or enclosures?”
It is:
➡️ Are the elephants physically healthy?
➡️ Can they express natural behaviours?
➡️ Are their nutritional and psychological needs being met?

Every system has trade-offs.
Good elephant welfare should always be judged by the overall wellbeing of the elephants, not by a single management method taken out of context.

11/05/2026

Today, we celebrate mothers… and elephant mothers deserve all our admiration. 🐘

In Laos, every birth is a huge victory for the survival of Asian elephants. But behind every calf lies a fragile and complex reality.

A female elephant carries her baby for 22 months – the longest gestation period of any land mammal – and then spends three more years nursing and raising her calf. Yet reproduction remains extremely slow and fragile.

Female elephants are fertile only a few days each year, and factors such as stress, intensive work, social isolation, disease, or poor nutrition can prevent pregnancies for many years. Across Asia, elephant birth rates remain critically low...

This is why we work to create the conditions necessary for motherhood: building stable social groups, providing specialised veterinary care, and maintaining dedicated spaces for mothers and calves, essential to their physical, social, and emotional development.

At the Elephant Conservation Center, calves stay alongside their mothers to learn, play, grow, and acquire the behaviours essential to their species.

This bond lies at the heart of our conservation mission. 🌱

On this Mother’s Day, we honour all elephant mothers… guardians of an endangered species.

09/05/2026