Animal Conservation

          While in both Northern Thailand and Laos I took the opportunity to learn about animal conservation, specifically about the conservation of elephants and Asiatic Black Bears. While in Northern Thailand I had the chance to spend several weeks working and learning with many elephant sanctuaries. We learned all about elephants, how they are taken care of, the challenges they face, and how to determine if a sanctuary is providing ethical care to an elephant.  While in Laos, we worked with the Free the Bears organization and learned about the challenges the Asiatic Black Bears were facing and what the organization was doing to help treat and rehabilitate the bears. 

          Getting to work with these organizations really showed me the importance of ethical treatment and what such ethical treatment looks like. As a medical professional such as a physical therapist it is crucial to keep ethical treatment. Skipping out on care or taking the easy route through recovery may be efficient, but may end up harming the patient more. Sticking with proper treatments and taking the time to help patients properly recover may take longer, but is much better for the patients. I will carry this experience with me throughout my journey of physical therapy and continue ethical care for the better of the patient.