ECORE

IN LAOS, SOUTH-EAST ASIA

EDUCATION, RESEARCH

& CONSERVATION

ELEPHANT BIOLOGY

AND TROPICAL ECOLOGY

STUDY ABROAD

JOIN

OUR 2-WEEK

AND 4-WEEK PROGRAMS

AND APPLY

YOUR KNOWLEDGE

LEARN

AND FACE TO FACE

HANDS ON

TO TRUE CONSERVATION

CONTRIBUTE YOUR SKILLS

MEET

THE GENTLE GIANTS

AND THEIR CARETAKERS

LIVE

YOUR DREAMS

IN NATURE IMMACULATE

A LASTING DIFFERENCE

MAKE

YOUR WILD IN LAOS

FIND

Study & Volunteer Abroad Programs

Two Decades Working for Lao Elephants

Established in 2010 by Sébastien Duffillot, IUCN Asian Elephant Specialist Group Member, the Elephant Conservation Center cares for thirty elephants.

We rescue, rehabilitate, and re-herd captive elephants preparing them for return to the wild in the Nam Pouy National Protected Area (NPA). Elephants arrive at the ECC by rescue, confiscation from illegal traders, or by purchase from their former owners.

Our diverse team of experts helps protect Nam Pouy NPA – more than half a million acres of tropical forest habitat and home to the second largest wild elephant population in Laos. While our focus is on elephants, we actively contribute to the protection of the NPA’s vast array of wildlife species through our support of the Nam Pouy Ranger Patrols.

Our pioneering Back to the Wild program, Elephant Hospital, and Endocrinology Lab are providing the best possible living conditions to our resident elephants. ln 2019, we successfully released four captive elephants back to the wild – a first in Laos!

Science & Traditional Knowledge. Blending traditional mahout knowledge and cutting-edge scientific research is in our DNA. Be it for training, breeding, or re-herding elephants, we rely on local caretakers’ experience blended with the use of state-of-the art technology to inform and facilitate our work.

Habitat Protection. We work in cooperation with the Lao government and communities in Sayaboury to protect the Nam Pouy NPA. Through the forest ranger patrol program, we prevent illegal logging, poaching and human-elephant conflicts in the protected area.

Outreach & Education. We raise awareness about the plight of elephants and the challenges of forest conservation through a wide variety of local and global outreach and education programs.

An Elephant Conservation, Research and Education Center in Laos

The Elephant conservation Center (ECC) was established in 2010 in Sayaboury, in the North-West of Laos, by ElefantAsia NGO founders. The ECC runs several in-situ research and conservation programmes and takes care of 30 Asian elephants (19 cows, 9 bulls and 2 calves) on a land spanning 540 hectares. It also has access to the nearby 192.000 hectares Nam Pouy National Protected Area, home to the second largest wild elephant population of Laos.

In 2022, The ECC’s Education, Conservation & Research platform becomes ECORE.

The Center can accommodate up to 40 researchers and students at once. Its shuttle service (to and from Luang Prabang), restaurant and bungalows are available for short and long-term missions.

More importantly, the ECC has an elephant hospital, an endocrinology laboratory and a fully equipped training area for its resident elephants.

ECC’s veterinary technician, biologist and translators are permanently based on site to assist with work being carried out on site.

The ECC is the ideal place to study and conduct research on both wild and captive Asian elephants and their environment, be it natural or cultural. We can offer excellent conditions to researchers willing to spend time studying Asian elephants as well as all other organisms sharing their rich tropical ecosystem.

Beyond elephant related research, ECORE / ECC can welcome researchers and students willing to work on other tropical species thanks to their access to the Nam Pouy NPA and connection with the National University of Laos.

Our facilities offer 4G ready office and lab space (limited to 4 people at once) as well as full board accommodation. Our multi-cultural staff is on site to support students and researchers with translation and logistics. ECC staff can arrange access to biological samples, data and measurements.