How do you know if an elephant’s had enough water? Why do so many rescue elephants have damaged feet? Is it ever okay to ride an elephant, swim with an elephant or “give an elephant a spa for the day”? And what happens if an elderly elephant was never taught how to trumpet?

We visited the lovely ladies of Elephant Valley Project to find out more about their conservation work, the challenges of caring for these amazing animals… and how to tell if an elephant sanctuary is really offering an ethical experience. 

Update: Since we filmed this documentary, EVP has been hit hard by the Covid-19 lockdown and internal travel restrictions in Cambodia. The sanctuary relies on eco-tourism to survive… and those elephants are expensive to feed! If you’d like to help protect Ruby and Sambo’s home, the team’s jobs and the spectacular forests of Mondulkiri, you can make a donation here.