I first learned about the woes of Thailand’s captive elephants as a volunteer at Elephant Nature Park in 2008, and soon became a passionate advocate for their welfare. I studied several elephant sanctuaries and welfare/conservation projects for my PhD at the University of Sydney, which focused on the ethical potential of volunteer tourism. As well as working with elephants, I conducted fieldwork with birds, monkeys and turtles in Bali, Indonesia and at a hospital for stray cows, donkeys and dogs in Udaipur, India.

After completing my PhD, I continued to study captive elephants in Thailand. Most of my work centres on the relationships between elephants and their mahouts (traditional Indigenous elephant keepers) in Ban Ta Klang Elephant Village, northeast Thailand, where I worked with The Surin Project. I also studied a number of different sites such as BEES Elephant Sanctuary in Mae Chaem and Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp in Chiang Rai. Using my immersive fieldwork methodology, I developed a book length study of captive elephant welfare and conservation that will be published on 28 June 2022, entitled “After the Forests: Thailand’s Captive Elephants and Their People”.

I’m passionate about helping local communities of mahouts to manage their elephants in captivity. I view ethical tourism as the best way forward, considering that captive elephants and mahouts in Thailand are dependent on the industry. Due to the decimation of Thailand’s forests, ethical tourism provides one of the only viable ways of ensuring the welfare and wellbeing of elephants. My book will contribute to conversations in this area among a range of behaviourists, conservationists and advocates working together to improve the lives of captive elephants.

Before becoming involved with elephants, I worked in animal advocacy for over 15 years. As a keen horse trainer who uses “natural” techniques, I began my foray into academia by researching the ethics of human-horse relationships. Drawing on my experience in the field of animal studies, I then undertook a study of soi (street) dogs living in Bangkok, Thailand, where I developed a methodology for observing interactions between dogs and their human carers in local communities.

I have published my research in top animal studies journals such as Humanimalia, Society & Animals and the Animal Studies Journal and in the edited collection Speaking for Animals: Animal Autobiographical Writing. My work has also been cited in journals such as Social Anthropology and Society & Space and in books such as Human-Animal Relationships in Equestrian Sport and Leisure and Underdogs: Pets, People, and Poverty.

I had a weekly column in the Medium publication Creatures, and write about a variety of different animal-related topics. My work has also been published on the responsible travel website Epicure & Culture. I also regularly present my research at international animal studies conferences, and was on the editorial board for the book Animals in the Anthropocene: Critical Perspectives on Non-Human Futures.

I was recently interviewed by zoologist and conservationist Dr Grey Stafford for his podcast Zoo Logic about my work with captive elephants. Check the episode out here!

I also spoke to George Siegal of Move the World Films for his podcast “Tell Us How to Make it Better”.

I had a great chat with Camryn Martin for her podcast “Nature is Gay” where we discussed the intimate lives of elephants and how we can help them by offering them social and enrichment opportunities.

When I’m not writing, I spend time with my horses Fly and Chester. I also DJ and produce electronic music under the name Ponymeadow. I live in Sydney, Australia with my wife Anna and cat Izzy.