Elephant Hospital of Krabi

The Elephant Hospital of Krabi, also known as the Southern Elephant Hospital, is the sole government-run facility of its kind in Southern Thailand, dedicated to the specialized medical care and rehabilitation of elephants. Established around 2009–2011 and operated under the National Elephant Institute (part of the Forest Industry Organization under royal patronage), the hospital provides vital health services across 14 southern provinces. Its primary mission is to offer free medical treatment, check-ups, and long-term care for sick, injured, and retired elephants from private camps, individual owners, or conservation projects. Cases commonly treated include injuries from labor or tourism work, gastrointestinal issues, foot and nail ailments, and infectious diseases. In addition to its stationary facility in Khlong Thom District, the institution runs mobile veterinary projects, supervises rescue operations, manages musth elephants, and serves as an educational and research center for veterinary students and researchers.

Medical treatment, examinations, and healthcare services provided to elephants at the facility are entirely free of charge for owners and camps. As a government-operated welfare and conservation center, admission for general visitors observing educational outreach is free, though operations heavily rely on public donations for medical supplies and equipment.

The hospital is located in a rural, forested region of Tambon Phela within the Khlong Thom District of Krabi Province. Set across a sprawling natural landscape encompassing protected forest and designated elephant conservation zones, it is surrounded by greenery, local rural roads, and agricultural plantation areas typical of southern Thailand.

The hospital is located in the Khlong Thom District of Krabi Province. From Krabi Town or Ao Nang Beach, it is typically accessed by a 25 to 40-minute journey via private car, taxi, or ride-share vehicle heading south-southeast into Khlong Thom. Public transport options directly to the facility are sparse, making private or hired road transport the standard method of arrival.