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Elephant Venue Certification

ACES-certified venues ensure top elephant welfare, based on expert findings, research, and best management practices.

WELFARE STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION

Join the responsible elephant venue movement and have your elephant experience internationally certified by ACES. Certified venues demonstrate the highest level of elephant welfare, human resources, environmental enrichment, and community development. Our certification benchmarks are developed from expert findings, evidence-based research and camp management best practices. 

Certification Benefits

Once certified, you can display the ACES logo, plaque and your certification status at your venue and on your promotional materials to enable the travel trade and visitors to identify and promote your elephant experience as meeting international standards of quality and care.

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Industry leader
and elephant
champion status.

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Visitor leader and
brand credibility.

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Entry into new
national and international markets.

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Access to a network of tour operators and industry leaders.

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Support from an independent, reliable and transparent body.

Our standards & certification process

Be leaders of positive change. Regardless of whether your camp has 2 or 70 elephants, our assessment system works seamlessly - showing the world that your camp cares about providing the highest level of elephant welfare possible. An easy and uncomplicated process, the ACES team runs through all necessary steps so your camp is ready and well prepared – before the assessment process has even begun! Camp accreditation takes an approximate one month to complete.

 

Asian Captive Elephant Standards provides a quick and easy evaluation process so visitors can identify your camp as meeting international standards of quality camp and elephant welfare. Certification allows your camp to use the ACES logo for marketing purposes, highlighting your camp’s qualities from the others.

 

Join the responsible elephant camp movement and have your elephant camp internationally certified. It’s an essential investment for your camp’s global reputation. 

Certification Rankings
​

Have your camp internationally verified with one of our elephant welfare rankings. ACES camp certification is structured into four levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold & Conservation Leadership. Conservation Leadership qualifications are suitable for only a certain type of elephant camp and takes into consideration unique national circumstances. Camp managers are encouraged to contact us for detailed information about each level, and receive a complimentary service proposal. 

BRONZE 

100% of the mandatory criteria and >40% of the advanced criteria.

SILVER 

100% of the mandatory criteria and >60% of the advanced criteria.

GOLD

100% of the mandatory criteria and >80% of the advanced criteria.

Conservation
Leadership

100% of the mandatory criteria and >80% of the advanced criteria.

Our standards

Responsible travellers tread lightly on the earth, respecting local cultures and practices. The choices you make can steer local businesses and their actions in positive directions. Responsible travellers want to experience the magic of elephants without contributing to animal exploitation.

 

Choose only an ACES accredited camp for your next elephant destination. This is the only way you can be assured that your visit is helping elephants, mahouts and local communities. You can also contact your preferred elephant camp and request they accredit their facility with us. The elephants will thank you!

 

Our standards exceed all national government requirements for elephant welfare. Designed and approved by independent elephant experts, our assessment process thoroughly examines eight areas of camp management:​

1. Legal Requirement

Business registration, Legal paperwork

2. Facility Management

Employee records, Wages, Insurance, Training, Living quarters.

3. Elephant Management

Elephant living space, Chaining conditions

4. Elephant Welfare

Veterinarian support, Diet, Musth, Geriatric

5. Elephant Activities

Protocol for activities: feeding, bathing, walking, observation, etc.

6. Visitor Safety

First aid, Emergency plans, Insurance, Amenities.

7. Visitor Experience

Access to knowledge about elephant.

8. Environment & Community

Energy saving, waste management, and local relationships.

ACES will not work with camps that:

  • ​Do not follow the Five Domains of Freedom.

  • Make elephants work in extreme heat.

  • Do not allow elephants sufficient rest breaks or access to clean drinking water.

  • Do not provide suitable living shelters.

  • Make elephants perform unnatural behaviours such as circus tricks, standing on hind legs and associated activities.

  • Cannot provide the legal paperwork, registration papers and other documents showing the provenance of every elephant. 

  • Feed their elephants poor diets with a lack of seasonal variety.

  • Are engaged in wildlife trafficking or the illegal use of fauna or flora.

  • Have poor mahout training and/or mahouts that show any form of harm towards elephants.

ACES will work with camps that:

  • ​Have a genuine commitment to engaging with ACES and improving camp practices.

  • Support local elephant conservation efforts.

  • Support local communities and farmers.

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