Katie Harris

Katie Harris Highlighting important conservation, environmental and animal welfare issues, using photography as my voice

Getting back to posting more of the incredible wildlife in Sri Lanka. - Common kingfisher
14/04/2026

Getting back to posting more of the incredible wildlife in Sri Lanka.

- Common kingfisher

On world bear day I thought I’d share a couple of photos from Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh in Vietnam. The project was estab...
23/03/2026

On world bear day I thought I’d share a couple of photos from Bear Sanctuary Ninh Binh in Vietnam. The project was established in 2017 by the global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS. The sanctuary is mainly home to Asiatic black bears which have been rescued from bile farming and the illegal wildlife trade.

Bear bile is a fluid which is extracted from a bears gallbladder to be used in traditional medicine. The bile contains a large amount of ursodeoxycholic acid which can help humans with liver or gallbladder problems. However, this acid can also be produced synthetically in a lab or by using plants, making bear bile farming completely unnecessary.

The bile is drained either via a catheter, syringe or pipe inserted into the gallbladder. It is a painful process where the bears are often sedated or restrained. They are kept in tiny cages and are starved, dehydrated and many suffer from disease. This can be their reality for up to 30 years.

Bear bile farming is now illegal in Vietnam and thanks to the efforts of organisations like Four Paws, Animals Asia and Free the bears, the industry has nearly been eradicated here. It is thought that only around 150 bears are still being exploited in the country, compared to over 4,000 in 2005.

46 bears now have a new lease of life at the Sanctuary. They have large enclosures where they can roam freely, forage for food and rediscover their natural instincts. They have pools where they can cool off, high platforms and dens to relax in. The bears that can share enclosures enjoy playing and interacting with each other.

Although the situation is positive in Vietnam, over 10,000 bears are still trapped in bile farms across Asia, predominantly in China. By supporting organisations trying to end this cruel practice, hopefully one day all bears will be able to experience the freedom they deserve.
ninhbinh .international

19/02/2026

Elephant Sanctuary Laos provides a safe and loving home to eight beautiful elephants who have all been rescued from traumatic pasts. Located in a forested area along a beautiful riverside, the elephants have plenty of space to roam, forage and interact with one another. The sanctuary is also home to many other animals including dogs, cats, monkeys, goats and tortoise.

16/02/2026

Clips spending time at Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary. The area covers 32,000 acres of protected forest where around 25,000 trees are planted each year. This helps restore the local fauna and flora which had been damaged by illegal logging and poaching. The sanctuary provides a safe home to many animals including three rescued elephants, DiPloh, Sarai Mia and Kaavan. The forested area is home to a variety of wildlife including gibbons, porcupines, hornbill, and banteng.

Tufted grey langur
11/11/2025

Tufted grey langur

Green forest lizard
19/10/2025

Green forest lizard

Many tourists do not realise what an elephant has had to endure before allowing them to touch it safely. It will have be...
18/02/2025

Many tourists do not realise what an elephant has had to endure before allowing them to touch it safely. It will have been through exactly the same torture process used for elephants being ridden.

Last month a 22 year old woman was killed while bathing an elephant at a tourist attraction in Thailand. The practices of riding, bathing and having photos taken with elephants are not only mentally and physically damaging to the animal, they can also be dangerous for the tourists too.

Hopefully in light of this tragic event, more people will do their research before visiting elephants in Thailand, and choose ethical sanctuaries instead of those focused solely on profit.

These photos were taken at a place called Phuket Elephant On The Beach. The elephants were kept chained to trees nearby in between being forced to pose for photos with groups of tourists.

A baby elephant chained in a small pen near the entrance of a trekking camp to lure in tourists.
26/01/2025

A baby elephant chained in a small pen near the entrance of a trekking camp to lure in tourists.

Despite their size, elephants do not have spines built to carry heavy weights. The chair and tourists together can weigh...
08/01/2025

Despite their size, elephants do not have spines built to carry heavy weights. The chair and tourists together can weight around 450kg. Elephants have sharp bony protrusions that extend upwards from their spine which can easily be damaged by any weight and pressure coming from above. Being forced to work long hours in the trekking industry often results in lasting damage and puts their spines at risk of caving in. All elephants used for tourists rides have been through the phajaan, so anyone who chooses to ride an elephant is complicit in the torture of baby elephants.

Wealth over welfare - PhuketPhuket is a hot spot for foreign tourists travelling to Thailand. And where there is demand ...
29/12/2024

Wealth over welfare - Phuket

Phuket is a hot spot for foreign tourists travelling to Thailand. And where there is demand for animal entertainment there will always be supply. Most streets in Phuket have at least one sign for elephant tourism, whether it’s outside a shop, a massage parlour, on a billboard or in a taxi. Many signs show elephants being used for trekking, while others show elephants being exploited in circuses or used as photo props. I photographed four trekking camps in total as well as a tourist attraction advertised as ‘Phuket elephant on the beach’.

In such a competitive, lucrative business where profit is often prioritised over welfare, it can be difficult for tourists to distinguish between ethical and unethical operators.

The tourists I photographed seemed either unaware or unconcerned about the pain and suffering the elephants endure.

Happy World Elephant Day! 🐘 A day dedicated to raising awareness for the conservation and protection of these magnificen...
12/08/2024

Happy World Elephant Day! 🐘 A day dedicated to raising awareness for the conservation and protection of these magnificent animals.

Elephants are highly intelligent animals and play a vital role in their ecosystems. They need our help to combat issues like habitat loss, poaching, human-wildlife conflict and exploitation in captivity.

Paving the way for elephant conservation is Lek Chailert, founder of Elephant Nature Park in Thailand and Save Elephant Foundation. When I spent a week volunteering there last year Lek told me, “I learn a lot from when we rescue elephants, when they first arrive and I can see them hug. They comfort each other, it’s beautiful, they talk and speak to each other. I think we should leave them to be elephants.”

Elephants need a voice now more than ever. Ways in which you can help include raising awareness to promote their protection and supporting reputable conservation efforts. Hopefully one day all elephants will be able to experience the freedom and love they deserve.

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