We need to act now

BTEH is dedicated to the well-being and survival of African and Asian elephants, fostering socio-ecological resilience in communities seeking human-elephant coexistence, and striving for a world where both elephants and people can thrive. Our community-based conservation approach, developed since BTEH’s founding in 2004, emphasises shared decision-making, sustainability, equality, and partnerships. Through our projects, we promote evidence-based solutions that achieve human-elephant coexistence through range expansion, habitat restoration and supporting farmers in elephant-friendly livelihoods and land use, generating benefits for people, elephants and the ecosystems they share.

Elephant Research Experience Thailand:
October 1-10 2025

Dive into the heart of Thailand’s Kuiburi National Park and make a real impact on elephant conservation! Join Bring The Elephant Home’s groundbreaking research team and experience the thrill of studying wild Asian elephants up close! As one of our selected research assistants, you’ll track elephants through lush jungles, decode their behaviours, and work alongside expert researchers and local communities. Contribute to a cutting-edge elephant ID system and community-driven conservation projects that transform human-elephant conflict into coexistence.

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For the future of elephants!

Elephants are a keystone species in the ecosystems they are part of. Elephants disperse seeds, maintain grasslands and find water, all crucial for the survival of other species.

The mission of Bring The Elephant Home is to increase the chances of survival for elephants
in the wild and strive towards a
harmonious world where both humans and elephants can thrive, mutually benefiting from
coexistence.

Antoinette van de Water – founder BTEH

We need your help

We always welcome partners, volunteers, donors and sponsors for our projects. Please consider supporting our activities in Asia or Africa by making a donation. You can follow the latest news here.

Meet the team

Bring The Elephant Home is active on three continents. There is a lot of work to do for our various projects around the world, and we help to realise our ambitious plans is always welcome! More info: support@bteh.org. Meet the team!

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Latest news

Podcast Protecting the Wild: Merging Tourism and Conservation in Africa

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Bringing down fences: one year on.

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RAGweek Nijmegen

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Newest video

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  • 🐘 Do Ivory Bans Really Work? A recent study analyzing elephant poaching trends from 2003 to 2022 sheds new light on this crucial question. Researchers found that after the controversial 2008 ivory sale to China and Japan, illegal elephant killings in Africa surged dramatically, reaching peak levels between 2009 and 2014. The good news: following the introduction of strict domestic ivory trade bans in major markets like China and the United States after 2015, elephant poaching significantly declined. The study highlights that international trade bans alone aren’t enough. Effective protection comes from strong national policies that reduce consumer demand and close loopholes exploited by wildlife traffickers. The takeaway? Ivory bans CAN save elephants—but only when paired with sustained enforcement and global cooperation. 🌍✊ Let’s keep pushing for policies that protect elephants and end the ivory trade for good. Read the full study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03658 #SaveElephants #WildlifeConservation #ResearchForConservation #ElephantProtection #ivorytrade
  • 🐘🇹🇭— Only 3 Months Away! Join our next Elephant Research Experience in Thailand, a unique 10-day adventure in Kuiburi National Park, where you’ll actively contribute to cutting-edge elephant conservation research and community-driven coexistence projects. 📍 Where: Kuiburi National Park, Thailand 🗓 When: October 1–10, 2025 💶 Cost: 2,000 EUR / 2,300 USD (fundraising support available) 🔍 You’ll get hands-on experience: - Tracking and identifying wild Asian elephants - Recording and analyzing elephant behavior - Reviewing camera-trap footage - Supporting community-based conservation Spots are filling quickly—apply today and join us for a one in a lifetime experience! 👉 Apply here: www.bteh.org Questions? Email brooke@bteh.org #ElephantConservation #WildlifeResearch #Thailand #ApplyNow #BringTheElephantHome #elephantresesrch #wildliferesearch #humanelephantcoexistence #conservation #volunteerabroad #goabroad
  • Invest in a future where elephants roam free, and ecosystems and responsible tourism thrive! We’ve just returned from an inspiring week at #FHSAfrica in Cape Town, where our Africa Regional Director, Brooke Friswold, shared BTEH’s vision for elephant conservation across the continent. She presented our Conservation Research Collaboration, a powerful initiative that supports NGOs, communities, students, and corporate partners in designing and implementing elephant research, and our plans to establish the world’s first elephant rewilding reserve, in collaboration with the Elephant Reintegration Trust. Brooke also joined the panel “Conservation as Big Business”, sparking dialogue on how the private sector can actively support wildlife, communities, and ecosystems. We’re inspired by the meaningful connections, innovative conservation funding ideas, and promising new collaborations on the horizon. #elephantreintegrationtrust #ElephantConservation #Rewilding #AfricaConservation #BTEH #netpositive #ResponsibleTourism #FHS2025 #CommunityLedConservation
  • Our team is proud to have shared our research at the International Congress for Conservation Biology #ICCB2025 in Brisbane / Meanjin Australia alongside inspiring collaborators and colleagues working to advance human-elephant coexistence across Asia and Africa! 🐘 Tyler Nuckols (@t.nucks) our Research and Programs Manager, presented findings from his PhD dissertation exploring human-elephant conflict in Ruam Thai, Thailand through the lens of environmental justice. 📡 Sateesh Venkatesh (@sdvpics ) from @trunksnleaves shared his work using cutting-edge technologies to monitor human-elephant interactions across Thailand and Sri Lanka. 🌿 Dr. Megan English @thesfs_cambodia presented recent research and provided an important update on the status of wild Asian elephants in Cambodia. Grateful to be part of this growing network of researchers and practitioners working for more just, resilient, and ethical conservation futures. #ICCB2025 #HumanElephantConflict #EnvironmentalJustice #ConservationScience #TrunksAndLeaves #BringTheElephantHome #AsianElephants #Thailand #SriLanka #Cambodia #EquityInConservation #WildlifeResearch
  • We’re excited to be collaborating with renowned filmmaker Nick Chevallier, whose 30+ years of experience in socio-environmental documentaries have brought powerful wildlife and community stories to life across Africa. Together with his team, we’re documenting our elephant conservation work at the beautiful @kariega.game.reserve and our bold shared vision for the future with the @elephantreintegrationtrust. Grateful for the collaboration with @kariega_foundation and for this opportunity to share our passion with the world. Stay tuned for the trailer! 🐘💚 #filmsforaction #wildlifedocumentary #conservationaction #bringtheelephanthome #elephants #rewilding #kariegagamereserve #kariegafoundation
  • Science meets wonder in the wild 🐘✨ During our elephant research program at @kariega.game.reserve, we’re not just collecting data. We’re witnessing awe-inspiring encounters that remind us why we do this work. Each moment is a call to protect, connect, and coexist, and a reminder that evidence-based conservation makes this possible. May this glimpse into the wild revive our connection with nature, and help us remember who we truly are. #ElephantResearch #WildlifeEncounters #ConservationInAction #SacredNature #HumanElephantCoexistence #kariegagamereserve #connectwithnature #ubuntu