Internships Details

About the Organization

Elephant Nature Foundation (ENF) is a non-profit organization working to increase awareness about the endangered Asian elephant, educate locals on the humane treatment of their elephants, and provide sanctuary for rescued elephants at their Elephant Nature Park. Established in 1995, Elephant Nature Park is home to over 30 rescued elephants who are now able to live their lives in peace and dignity.

The ENF's mission: to save the Asian elephant from extinction and give domesticated elephants a life worth living by preserving habitat and increasing public awareness on humane treatment practices. In carrying out this mission, we ensure that the best interests of the elephants within the Park are maintained and that their short- and long-term needs are met. We endeavor to extend this same support to the people and elephants within the Jumbo Express project and other outreach projects.

Jumbo Express provides emergency medical care to elephants who would otherwise receive none. It also works to build ties with local populations and helps to improve human-elephant relationships. ENF also has purchased a large area of land that allows the elephants to roam without human contact. Located on a remote mountaintop, Elephant Haven is a jungle retreat regularly visited by our elephants. Far from human encroachment, a visit to the Haven allows our elephants to relax in their natural environment.

The ENF's overall goals are to 1) Work without politics and in cooperation with local and international elephant and government organizations to protect elephants and their environment, 2) Attract and develop academic involvement including links with veterinarians and veterinary organizations, 3) Increase the scope of the education programs and the impact they have.

The ENF was founded by Sangduen "Lek" Chailert who has been around elephants ever since her father was given one when she was a child growing up in northern Thailand. Lek later worked to help employed elephants and learned about they often face in the traditional tourism industry, and began advocating for the rights and welfare of Asian elephants in Thailand. Her inspirational work over the past 20 years has been recognized by prestigious environmental groups from around the world. In addition to several documentaries about her work by National Geographic, Discovery, Animal Planet, and the BBC, Lek has also been honored to receive many awards. In 2005, Time Magazine named her a Hero of Asia for her work in conservation. The Ford Foundation in association with National Geographic named Lek a Hero of the Planet in 2001. Additionally, she has received two honorary degrees from Rajabaht Chiang Mai University; a PhD in Sustainability and Conservation in 2002, and a PhD in Veterinary Science in 2006. Finally, the National Geographic documentary Vanishing Giants, highlighting Lek's work with the Asian elephant, was recognized by the Humane Society of the United States with the Genesis Award in 2003.

Learn more about the orgnaization at the Elephant Nature Foundation website.

Job Description

The intern will be working with and supervised by the Program Manager, who "wears many hats" while working on various projects to ensure the organization's goals and philosophy. As an assistant to the Program Manager, the intern will gain hands on project management experience helping to fulfill the varied challenges and opportunities that arise. Applicants interested in eco-tourism, sustainable development and conservation related fields will see firsthand how such integrated programs work on an operational level. On the conceptual and theoretical side, the Elephant Nature Foundation wants the intern to understand the issues facing endangered elephants and what policy and behavioral changes are needed to protect them. Thus, the intern would likely spend the first week at the Elephant Nature Park, helping to take care of the elephants and the facilities that help to bring in eco-tourists for their tours of the park, as well as learn how the programs and tours are conducted. Once the intern has had their "orientation" of the issues and programs at the park they will return to the Chiang Mai office and begin assisting the program manager.

The ideal intern will be flexible and understand that the nature of their work will be varied and change as needs arise. The ENF's main goal is to educate and they want the intern to thoroughly understand the issues facing elephants. While much of the work will be based in the Chiang Mai headquarters office, the workload will be dynamic and necessitate trips outside of the office to various communities for educational or promotional events, which the intern would assist in organizing. There may be a specific project to work on or a variety, but this will be worked out with the program manager prior to and upon arrival for the internship.

# of Positions per term

2

Start Dates

Any term

Duration of Internship

3 - 6 mos.

Qualifications

Academic Background

Environmental sciences, eco-tourism, sustainable development, natural resource management, project management, non-profit management, veterinary science, multi-media, marketing, communications and majors with related subject interest are encouraged to apply. Additionally, there are ongoing opportunities for documentary film makers to work with the ENF to document the work that goes on there.

Skills/Experience

The applicant should be someone who enjoys animals while being a "people person" who is comfortable in intercultural settings. There will be lots of interaction with people from different countries, cultures and linguistic backgrounds. Good office and computer skills are important. Multi-media experience is useful if asked to contribute to creating promotional materials or contribute to the website. Education, fundraising and marketing experience is beneficial as these skills and considerations assist ENF achieve their overall goals.

Language Ability

English is the working language but Thai and some local languages are spoken as well. The more you are willing to learn, the better!

Other Requirements

Internship Costs

Total costs vary depending on how long you plan to be abroad, where you will be living, your personal spending habits, and current exchange rates. The following estimates will give you a ballpark figure for this internship. Get help with the math from our handy Cost Calculator.

IE₃ Program Fee

The program fee* for the first term of any internship is $2950 - $3150. You do not pay tuition in addition to the program fee. Visit your University's IE₃ page for details, costs for additional terms, and campus administrative fees.

*The program fee noted above reflects the anticipated fee increase that will go into effect for the Fall 2010 term and will apply to all terms thereafter.

Estimated One-Time Expenses

Expense Type	Price
International Travel	R/T flight to Thailand $1800. **Please note that this cost varies widely by provider and when you book your flight**
Visa Fees	$35-60
Recommended Immunizations	$100-$300. In addition to the recommended routine vaccinations, the following vaccinations are recommended for Thailand: Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, Japanese encephalytis, rabies. Your doctor or health-care provider will determine what you will need, depending on factors such as your health and immunization history, areas of the country you will be visiting, and planned activities. See the Center for Disease Control for more information.

*See Additional Cost Information below.

Estimated Monthly Expenses

Expense Type	Price/month
Housing	$150
Food	$150-$250
Local Transportation	$50
Recreation	$100
Personal Expenses	$75

Compensation

There is no compensation at this time. However, affordable housing is available very nearby the office in Chiang Mai and food will be covered during the time at the Park and occasionally at other events.

Additional Expense Information

You will have an apartment nearby the office (as do the rest of the staff), so there will be no or minimial daily transportation costs for work. The office area is rich in local inexpensive and safe street food. The amount spent on food varies greatly by personal tastes. Chiang Mai boasts some of the best restauraunts in Thailand, including Western options. The Western options are the most expensive but it is very easy to live inexpensively in Thailand if you want to. There are also inexpensive public transportation options throughout Chiang Mai.

Additional Information

Elephant Nature Foundation website