Kelly Heruer on Moving to Thailand and the Horror of Elephant Riding

Kelly Heruer, the 34-year-old winner of the 2023 season of Echte Meisjes in de Jungle, has expressed strong criticism regarding animal tourism in Thailand following her permanent move to the country.

In a report published by De Telegraaf on May 3, 2026, Heruer highlighted her distress over the continued prevalence of elephant riding as a tourist activity. The reality star described the practice as terrible, noting that such activities remain available to visitors despite growing global concerns over animal welfare.

Heruer detailed these concerns in episode #30 of her podcast, titled Dieren toerisme in Thailand, where she discussed aspects of the country she finds difficult to appreciate despite her overall love for the region.

A New Life in Thailand

The criticism comes several months after Heruer and her partner, Jethro Galung, emigrated from the Netherlands to Thailand in February 2026. Galung is known for his appearance on The Bachelorette, where he previously sought the heart of Gaby Blaaser.

The couple moved to Thailand with their two sons, five-year-old Bodhi and two-year-old Mexxie. Heruer has stated that the decision to relocate was driven by a desire to provide her children with a different quality of life, emphasizing a move away from the pressures of materialism and appearance.

“We want to give our children a certain life. We find that very important… Mainly less hurried, living outdoors, and less pressure from materialism and how you look. More living in the now.”

Kelly Heruer, via Shownieuws

Heruer noted that the transition was facilitated by the fact that she has existing family ties in Thailand, ensuring the family was not entirely alone in a foreign country.

Transition from Reality TV and Public Pressure

Heruer’s move follows a period of significant public visibility and personal struggle. After winning Echte Meisjes in de Jungle in 2023, she became a prominent figure in Dutch reality media, but later faced severe harassment online.

She previously revealed that she received aggressive threats via direct messages, some of which targeted her children. These incidents led her to take drastic measures to protect her family’s privacy, including removing her children’s identifiable images from social media for a period of time.

The shift to Thailand represents a broader attempt to distance her family from the dark side of the internet and the need for social media validation. Since the move, Heruer has continued to document her experiences through her podcast, produced by the ILVY Network, where she shares insights into her real honest momlife and the challenges of adjusting to a new culture.

Her recent focus on animal tourism suggests that Heruer intends to use her platform to advocate for ethical tourism standards in her new home, balancing her appreciation for Thailand’s beauty with a vocal opposition to exploitative wildlife practices.