Byesville native travels to Thailand to work with elephants
Victoria Dunlap, 23, of Byesville, spent two weeks this summer in Thailand helping animals, discovering Thai culture, and learning hands-on what it’s like to be a veterinarian. Traveling with the study-abroad organization Loop Abroad, Dunlap was selected as part of a small team that volunteered to give care at a dog shelter and spent a week working directly with rescued elephants at an elephant sanctuary.
The Loop Abroad Veterinary Service program brings students to Thailand for two weeks to volunteer alongside veterinarians from the US and Thailand. For one week, Dunlap and her team volunteered at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand to work with the giant animals and learn about animal rescue and conservation on a larger scale.
The Elephant Nature Park is home to more than 60 elephants who have been rescued from trekking, logging, or forced breeding programs. Many of them had been abused and suffer from chronic injuries or blindness. At the Elephant Nature Park, they are cared for by volunteers from all over the world. Dunlap helped to feed and care for elephants, as well as learn about their diagnoses alongside an elephant vet.
For the second week, Dunlap learned from teaching veterinarians at the Dog Rescue Clinic in Chiang Mai, Thailand. By providing check-ups and cleanings, diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds, and helping with sterilization surgeries, the students were able to help support the health and well-being of these dogs while furthering their career goals.
Of her trip, Dunlap said, "This opportunity provided me with so much valuable experience, both personally and professionally. I learned a lot about the field of vet medicine, while also helping local dogs and rescued elephants. I met so many amazing people who provided wonderful insight into the 'Land of Smiles'.”
Victoria is an undergraduate at Ohio State University.
Submitted by Loop Abroad
This article originally appeared on The Daily Jeffersonian: Byesville native travels to Thailand to work with elephants
