At the first-ever National Elephant Day in March of 1999, 12 domesticated Asian elephants wandered into the wilderness to begin new lives. But their path to freedom had been an arduous one. The end of illegal logging operations left many domestic elephants, homeless and ill-equipped to fend for themselves in the wild. To address the crisis, the Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, Thailand rehabilitates the animals with the goal of releasing them into protected areas and then monitoring their well-being through the use of radio collars. Through dedication to their mission of giving these magnificent animals a new lease on life, the Elephant Conservation Centre boosts wild populations, as well. Thanks to their work, it’s the dawn of a new era for the Asian elephant in Thailand.