20 Years of Bring The Elephant Home: A Journey of Passion, Community, and Hope

Twenty-two years ago, on a hot Bangkok evening, my life changed forever. Amid the traffic and chaos of street vendors, I encountered a young elephant. Her trunk hung lifelessly, her wide, fearful eyes reflecting the neon lights and the haze of car fumes. In that moment, my heart broke—and mended—with a new purpose. I couldn’t walk away. That encounter became the spark that ignited Bring The Elephant Home, which officially began on November 12, 2004, with the signing of registration papers. But it carried the weight of a promise—one I made to that elephant, to myself, and to everyone who believed in this mission.

Learning and Growing

Our journey started with a simple goal: to help elephants in need. But looking back, I see how determined yet naïve I was. Each step forward revealed new layers of complexity and endless opportunities to learn. I vividly remember our first reforestation project, full of ambition and excitement. We carefully selected tree species, monitored each seedling, and celebrated as degraded landscapes began to recover. Seeing communities join us in these efforts was a turning point—I realised this was about more than just elephants. It was about building a world where humans and wildlife could coexist, a goal that went far beyond conservation biology.

Over the years, our focus has expanded beyond elephant behaviour and habitat restoration to include the aspirations and needs of the communities living alongside them in Thailand and Southern Africa. With every project—from our first beehive fence to supporting farmers in growing elephant-resistant crops—we carefully assessed and mitigated risks, always mindful of the vulnerable situations people face. At the same time, we recognised that avoiding risk entirely would limit innovation, as bold ideas often yield valuable lessons. Our successes were hard-won and deeply celebrated, while setbacks became opportunities for growth. These experiences reinforced that coexistence is complex and dynamic—never fully conflict-free. Yet with each obstacle, our team grew stronger, our strategies more refined, and our commitment deeper.

Shared Vision, United Efforts

This journey has never been about any one person, species, or solution—it has always been a collective effort, an integrated approach built on shared values. Funders made bold experiments possible, pioneering farmers tested new ways to protect their crops, and researchers measured every impact —every contribution matters. Together, we have seen remarkable transformations: communities once overwhelmed by conflict started to see elephants as part of a shared future. These successes wouldn’t have been possible without those who believed in our vision—donors, partners, students, volunteers, and everyone who shared our story. Every elephant protected, every farmer supported, every restored hectare of land, and every piece of data collected reflects the power of hope and collaboration.

20 Milestones — 20 Years

Here are some of the milestones we’re proud to celebrate:

  1. Improved elephant welfare: Enabled eight elephants to live in dignity within an elephant sanctuary, providing them a life free from street begging and performances.
  2. Restored degraded habitats: Planted over 700,000 trees to regenerate elephant habitats, primarily in Thailand, with additional efforts in Borneo.
  3. Award-winning projects: Won three awards—“In Action for the Bornean Elephant” received the Grahame Maher Award from Vodafone International (2008); “Habitat Improvement for Wild Elephants in Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary” earned the Terre des Femmes Award from Yves Rocher (2009); and “Planting 100,000 Trees for Elephants in Thailand” won Vodafone’s World of Difference Award (2007).
  4. Featured in documentaries: Our work appeared in three documentaries, with Return to the Wild winning a Roscar Award at the Durban Wild Talk Africa Film Festival and Forest Hope receiving the House of Animals Award.
  5. Developed an integrated, community-driven wild elephant conservation strategy. By building global partnerships, this approach places research and meaningful community engagement at its core, fostering coexistence and sustainable conservation solutions.
  6. Shared knowledge through publications: Published two books, dozens of media articles and ten scientific papers, and presented at 16 conferences.
  7. Supported future conservationists: Co-supervised three PhD and two Master’s students, along with numerous interns.
  8. Built a research station on the border of Kuiburi National Park: Serving as a base for scientific collaborations and community engagement, hundreds of workshops and meetings were hosted at our research station to support human-elephant coexistence.
  9. Supported sustainable livelihoods: Launched microloan programs in Buriram and Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand, to help communities develop sustainable enterprises.
  10. Gathered insights from communities: Conducted 11 surveys in Thailand, South Africa, and Namibia to better understand human-elephant challenges and aspirations.
  11. Deployed coexistence strategies: Installed beehive fences in Chanthaburi, Kanchanaburi, and Prachuap Khiri Khan provinces to mitigate elephant-caused crop damage and bring socio-economic benefits to local farmers.
  12. Experimented with elephant-resistant crops: Supported farmers in planning, implementing and monitoring a community-based study that assessed the suitability of 10 alternative crop species – none of which were consumed by elephants. 
  13. Established community enterprises: Supported farmers in creating a Fairtrade community enterprise, providing skill development, certification, and market access.
  14. Monitored elephant activity with technology: Installed camera traps to track elephant behaviour in the Mae Ping-Om Koi forest complex and farmland near Kuiburi National Park.
  15. Contributed to conservation policy in South Africa: Participated in multiple stakeholder workshops to explore the social, cultural, ecological, economic and intrinsic value of elephants.
  16. Tracked and studied elephants: Collared six elephants and identified 76 through GPS data, behavioural observations, and dung sampling in Kariega Game Reserve.
  17. Led research expeditions: Facilitated six elephant research expeditions in South Africa, contributing to valuable conservation data.
  18. Engaged communities and volunteers: Organised monthly conservation events for two decades, involving thousands of students, volunteers, and community members.
  19. Promoted coexistence through education: Hosted hundreds of educational workshops, fostering awareness about wildlife conservation and coexistence.
  20. Planning for the future with innovation: Continuously testing, refining, and sharing new strategies to build sustainable futures for both people and elephants.

Looking Ahead with Hope and Determination

As we stand at this 20-year milestone, I feel a mix of pride in what we’ve achieved, humility in knowing how much more needs to be done, and hope for the future. There’s still a long road ahead, but I am excited to walk it with our incredible team and network. I dream of a future where the sight of a wild elephant brings joy to all. I envision landscapes connected by corridors, where elephants roam freely, guided by the wisdom of matriarchs, leading their herds with grace and strength. These are the same values we must embody: managing resources with care and embracing coexistence as a way of life. Most of all, I dream of a global community united in the belief that we can share this planet in a just and sustainable way.

Our Goals for the Future

As we plan for the years ahead, we remain committed to conserving elephants and protecting their habitats through collaboration with local stakeholders. We will continue developing and promoting sustainable coexistence strategies that benefit elephants, people, and the environment. Empowering communities to actively participate in conservation and sustainable development remains at the heart of our work. We aim to raise awareness about the importance of nature conservation, inspiring others to take action. Finally, we strive to contribute to scientific knowledge that supports ethical, socially just, and sustainable conservation practices.

A Heartfelt Thank You

Whether you’ve been with us since the beginning or recently joined us—thank you. Your belief in a better world has made this journey possible, and every step forward has been powered by the collective strength of our supporters, partners, and communities.

To our incredible team—you are more than just colleagues. The passion, creativity, and dedication each of you brings make this work not only impactful but also inspiring and fun. Together, we’ve built something truly special, grounded in trust, shared purpose, and a commitment to making a difference.

This anniversary is not just a time to reflect on the past—it’s a rallying call for the future. The call to act has never been louder. Nature is urging us, and the world is ready for change. Let’s answer that call together.

We look forward to celebrating this milestone with external guests on November 9 in Hua Hin and with our team and community at our field station in Ruam Thai on November 12.

Here’s to the next 20 years of bringing elephants home—to a world where they, and we, can thrive.

With gratitude,

Antoinette van de Water

Founder & Director

Bring The Elephant Home

P.S. Join us in celebrating 20 years of Bring The Elephant Home with a special online anniversary donation—and support our mission for the years to come!

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