Save Elephant Foundation Dedicated to Protecting Asian Elephants
As a young adult, Lek spent much of her time helping animals, often taking breaks in between her studies at Chiang Mai Rajabhat University to head into the surrounding jungles to provide natural medical care to elephants in need. During this time she witnessed first-hand the plight of Asian elephants. It was then that she knew she had to dedicate her life to helping them. In 1992, she rescued her first elephant, Mae Perm. Then, in 2003, Lek received a large donation of land, which became Elephant Nature Park. Today, she is the founder of Save Elephant Foundation which supports Elephant Nature Park, Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia, Elephant Sanctuary Laos, Jumbo Express, Thailand Cares, SEF Myanmar and more.
Saengduean Chailert, better known as Lek, comes from the Khmu hill tribe in Northern Thailand. As a young girl, she made a connection with animals and the environment, thanks to her grandfather, who was the village shaman. The two would regularly venture into the jungle where she would learn about natural medicine and gain a healthy respect and knowledge, not only for the jungle inhabitants, but also the plant kingdom. It was early in her life when Lek met her first elephant, Thong Kham, whose name means Golden One. Her grandfather was given the elephant in return for saving the life of a young man. This sparked a love and respect for elephants that was to shape the course of her life.
Lek continues to be at the forefront of elephant rights, raising international awareness, and encouraging other countries in the region to follow her lead. She has received widespread recognition for her work, including the Ford Foundation’s Hero of the Planet in 2001, and guest of honor at the Humane Society of the United States of America’s Genesis Awards in 2003. In 2005, she was honored as one of TIME Magazine’s Heroes of Asia, and one of six Women Heroes of Global Conservation in 2010 by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. In 2017, Lek was invited by President Macron of France to join the Global Pact for the Environment summit at the United Nations in New York.
About The Founder
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 03
Elephant Nature Park
Nestled in the beautiful Mae Taeng valley near Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, a special place exists where elephants roam in herds, play in mud pits, bathe in the river, and are admired for the amazing forces of life that they are, free from fear and exploitation. Elephant Nature Park provides a sanctuary for elephants rescued from throughout Thailand.
04 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
In Asia, these gentle giants, while revered, are not free from abuse. Every year, scores of wild baby elephants are captured and taken from their mothers - who are often killed - and forced to undergo a torturous tradition to subjugate them, known as phajaan . This practice essentially breaks the spirit of the elephant, using fear of punishment to force them to accept riders on their backs, perform tricks, paint, and repeat other demeaning activities. At Elephant Nature Park, elephants traumatized by commercial tourism and illegal logging, have the chance to recover, lose their fear, and rediscover their elephant nature.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 07
Save Animals, Earth, Life
08 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 09
Elephants Living
in Sanctuary
Elephant Nature Park
Elephant Nature Park provides a safe haven for more than 100 rescued elephants and is the first elephant sanctuary of its kind established in Thailand. Many of the elephants living at the sanctuary have been rescued from street begging, elephant riding, and shows, where they often sustained both physical and psychological injuries. The park’s herds include blind, crippled, orphaned, and ‘senior’ elephants, who are now free to live a peaceful life in natural surroundings, where they are loved and respected. More than an elephant sanctuary, Elephant Nature Park is also home to hundreds of other rescued animals, including dogs, cats, buffalo, birds, and more. In addition, ENP supports the local community by creating jobs and purchasing locally grown produce.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 12
VISITORS
to ENP have the privilege of witnessing elephants interacting with each other in their chosen herds and observing the intricate network of relationships based around family groups. Elephants arriving at the park, often for the first time, have the freedom to form friendships and live without fear of punishment. During the day, the elephants at the park can be seen grazing in the fields, bathing in the river, playing in the mud pits, socializing, and caring for their young. There are several elephants who were born at the park and live happily in herds with their mothers and nannies, free of past trauma. Observing the complex communications and interactions between these highly sentient beings, with their unwavering devotion to their young - not just by the mother but also the designated nannies - is all part of the unique experience of visiting ENP. Visitors to the park help support our regional projects and ongoing efforts to rescue more elephants and improve the welfare of elephants in Asia.
ENP
provides educational programs that help visitors better understand the plight of the Asian elephant and the challenges faced in protecting this endangered species. The ENP model is based on putting the welfare of elephants first, which means no riding, shows, or other unnatural activities. This alternative approach to harmful traditional practices is growing in popularity, driven by an increasing demand from travelers for ethical, eco-friendly tourism. It is hoped that these more evolved programs centered on enjoying observing elephants in natural surroundings with limited human interaction, will continue to expand across Asia. 14 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 15
to Roam Freedom
Volunteers who join this program at Elephant Nature Park play a hands-on role in helping to care for and rehabilitate the resident herds of elephants and other animals. Volunteers at ENP will get to know the elephants and their histories, learn about the complexities of elephant behavior, and gain insights into the challenges facing Asian elephants today. As part of a global team of like-minded people who genuinely care about elephants, volunteers often enjoy a transformative experience that they never forget. • Introductions to the park and the elephants • Learn about the problems facing elephants in Thailand and how ENP is helping • Observe elephant families interacting within their chosen herds • Walk with the elephants and gain fascinating insights into elephant behavior • Watch the elephants play in mud pits and bathe in the river • Clean and prepare food for the elephants • Help with construction and maintenance projects • Care for the dogs and cats at the park • Enjoy delicious vegetarian buffet style Thai cuisine • Meet and socialize with interesting people from around the world ACTIVITIES & HIGHLIGHTS
Volunteer Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 19
18 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia is a joint project with Cambodia Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS) that spans one million acres and is home to several endangered species including elephants, tigers, banteng, Eld’s deer, crocodiles, and several species of turtles. Once densely forested and rich in biodiversity, illegal logging and poaching have had a destructive impact on the area. The project is focused on protecting the fauna and flora by restoring 25,000 acres of jungle located an hour north of the famous Angkor Wat temple complex. CWS provides a safe home in nature to rescued elephants, including two females, Di-Poh and Sarai Mia, who have lived at the sanctuary for several years and are free to roam the jungle during the day, foraging on natural vegetation. On November 30, 2020, they were joined by the now famous Kaavan, dubbed ‘the loneliest elephant in the world’. Rescued from deplorable conditions at the Islamabad Zoo in Pakistan, he was flown to CWS with the support of singer, Cher, Free the Wild, Four Paws, together with many others who campaigned for Kaavan’s freedom. Kaavan is the first bull elephant to live at the sanctuary. It is wonderful to see this majestic elephant enjoying his life in nature with the freedom to explore his jungle home and interact with other elephants.
Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 21
Volunteers have the chance to help care for the elephants, together with the many other rescued animals who have found a loving home at the sanctuary. During the day they are able to observe the elephants foraging and socializing with each other in their natural environment. Volunteers also help to reforest the area by keeping records of identified species, collecting seeds, and planting saplings, as well as assisting with the sustainable farming of fruit and vegetables. Developing an on-site school and working with the local community to establish educational outreach programs for children is another important aspect of the project. Volunteers play a vital role in helping to protect and regenerate a beautiful natural habitat so that elephants and other native species can repopulate the wildlife reserve. VOLUNTEER
22 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 23
Elephant Sanctuary Laos
Captive elephants are mostly used in logging where they are worked to exhaustion with little opportunity to breed. Consequently, there is an urgent need to protect the remaining elephants and provide a safe-haven where they can live free of exploitation. Female elephants, Phoon Me and Boon Hom, spent decades doing logging before being sent to a camp where they worked together giving rides to tourists. During this time, they formed a bond which has only strengthened since their rescue. Phoon Me walks with a limp after being stabbed in the leg as punishment for wandering onto a neighbouring property where she ate some food intended for another elephant. The silver lining resulting from this cruel act was that her disability provided her ticket out of the riding camp and led to her rescue. The sanctuary is also home to another female elephant, named, Thong Koon, who has suffered from a traumatic past. When Thong Koon arrived at the sanctuary, she was a broken soul following years of hardship in the logging industry, compounded by the painful experience of having a young calf taken away from her, and a second pregnancy resulting in a still birth, possibly from being overworked. In her new environment, free from oppression, Thong Koon is learning to trust again and old wounds have begun to heal.
The sanctuary is located in a very remote forested area intersected by a river, providing plenty of space for the elephants to wander, forage, swim, and just be elephants again. Other permanent residents include animals rescued from slaughter: 27 goats, 20 cows, 27 chickens, 4 rabbits, 60 ducks, 2 geese and 3 turkeys. There are also 10 dogs and 21 cats who have found a loving home at the sanctuary as well as a few monkeys and some tortoises! And to make sure that they are all well looked after, there is a small team of dedicated people working hard day after day, caring for all the animals.
Save Elephant Foundation supports Elephant Sanctuary Laos, which was set up in early 2020. The sanctuary is set on 200 rai of land in Xayaboury Province, about 2 hours from Luang Prabang and is home to three rescued elephants. Laos was formerly known as the ‘land of a million elephants’ and no doubt provided a good habitat in earlier times, with thick jungle and a sparse human population. But years of war with bombs and landmines, ever-expanding human settlements, profit- driven destruction of forests, and the insidious ivory trade, have conspired to reduce the population to about 700 wild elephants and 400 captive elephants.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 25
24 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
JUMBO EXPRESS
Jumbo Express is an outreach program that provides medical care to elephants and rural communities with the hope of opening new dialogues and conducting research concerning human-elephant relationships. For over two decades, the project has helped hundreds of hill tribe villages, tourist operations, illegal logging facilities, and refugee camps by providing critical health services to the elephants, thereby improving the quality of life for the elephant populations. Jumbo Express works outside of politics, dispensing aid to those in need without judgment, in order to develop broader networking opportunities for the diverse parties involved in Thailand’s elephant industry.
26 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 27
Through educating volunteers about local cultures and sending them into the field with professional staff, valuable cross-cultural exchanges occur between villagers and visitors. Medicine, vaccinations, food supplies, toys, blankets, and health information are among the many services provided to communities in need. All Jumbo Express events are documented with a written report summarizing these activities and recording information gathered in the field. As data regarding both the wild and domestic elephants at each site is collected, these reports provide crucial research from regions often inaccessible to academia. By providing medical aid to small communities while promoting conservation, Jumbo Express hopes to ensure that elephant populations and the cultures surrounding them will survive for generations to come.
28 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 29
Forest Restoration
Habitat destruction is the most pressing issue facing the Asian elephant population. A 2011 study by Conservation International listed the Indo-Burma Forest Hotspot, which includes Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma, as the most threatened in the world. By their estimate, only five percent of these irreplaceable Southeast Asian jungles remain intact. Wild elephants, whose family groups typically need more than 10,000 acres of habitat to survive, are suffering in the face of logging and farming interests. Save Elephant Foundation is committed to stopping this destruction through working with volunteer groups, local farmers, government agencies, and temples to reforest cleared areas. Habitat
Support of local monks has been invaluable to our reforestation projects. Because most Asian countries hold Buddhist monks in the highest regard, their orange robes and prayers are considered sacred. Monks have aided our efforts by blessing and donating thousands of these ochre robes, which are then tied around trees as a strong deterrent not to cut them and thereby increase the chance of the forest’s survival. In Thai culture, to cut a tree protected by the holy cloth would be to invite several lifetimes of bad karma. That’s a risk few people - even those in the illegal logging industry - would dare to take. By restoring a lost habitat, we increase our capacity to rescue more elephants from abusive situations and heal the fragmented range of wild populations. Save Elephant Foundation hopes to one day release rehabilitated elephants from our projects back into their natural habitat, where they can join a recovered wild population roaming freely the in jungle. The notion of wild and rescued elephants coexisting in preserved jungle environments is a dream we are working towards every day. Support
32 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 33
Thailand Cares is a project sponsored by Save Elephant Foundation and aims to support local hill tribe communities in Northern Thailand by improving their everyday lives. The project provides opportunities for children to go to school, for women to have access to daycare for their infants, for local businesses to sell their products globally, and for farmers to grow sustainable, eco-friendly crops. Save Elephant Foundation has an ongoing wish list of items that will support the Thailand Cares project - from blankets and pillows to laptops and blackboards, generous donations are greatly appreciated! THAILAND CARES
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 35
Although dogs and elephants may not find themselves sharing the same space in the wild, Save Elephant Foundation provides a loving home for both species at Elephant Nature Park. when catastrophic floods in Bangkok towards the end of 2011 resulted in thousands of dogs needing to be rescued. Navigating the flooded streets turned to rivers in rented boats, ENP volunteers rescued dogs trapped on rooftops and in desperate need of help. Many dogs were too afraid to board our boats and were given fresh water, food, and medical treatment to survive on their own. ENP Dogs began Of the 2,000 dogs pulled to safety, about 200 were brought to ENP to have a second chance in life. Large ‘dog runs’ were built with all kinds of things for the dogs to climb on, swim in, and play amongst. A small animal hospital was constructed and a full-time team of vets and assistants have been employed to care for ENP’s new family.
36 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 37
The Dog
Meat Trade
Since the floods, many new dogs have joined the family, including puppies and pregnant mothers from surrounding communities; often suffering from malnutrition, disease, abuse, and neglect. ENP Dogs has also saved many dogs destined for the illegal dog meat trade in Laos and Vietnam. Currently, ENP is home to more than 800 dogs! Caring for all these wonderful animals is a full-time job, and we need your help! If you’ve visited our Dog Rescue project at ENP, we will understand if you have fallen in love with one (or more) of these fantastic, loving dogs. Although our love for these animals is infinite, the space we have to care for them is finite, so we’re always happy to see a rescued dog adopted into a loving forever home!
38 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022 . 39
Mahout Education
The mahout is personally responsible for the welfare of his elephant and lives in close contact with them. They feed and bathe them and keep watch for any medical needs. Elephant Nature Park feels that the mahout’s role as primary caregiver is essential to the elephant’s well-being. We are working to raise the profile of this profession and highlight the importance of good education. At ENP, mahouts learn ways to use positive reinforcement and mutual respect to control the elephant under their care. In reducing the work-related stress put on the elephant, we reduce the need to suppress his or her natural behavior. ENP’s mahouts do not carry bullhooks. Instead, they carry bags of food and work with the natural instincts of socially healthy elephants. ENP provides free English lessons and intends to extend veterinary training to those interested.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 41
Save Elephant Foundation Myanmar
Saengduean founder of Elephant Nature Park, knows that there are some things in life that don’t happen overnight. Her perseverance and determination to improve the welfare of elephants in Myanmar is testimony to her dedication. Lek has made countless visits to Myanmar over the past two decades to monitor the welfare of the elephant population and has met with government officials, military personnel, mahouts, and villagers to better understand the plight of elephants in the country, and help them gain a wider understanding of the importance of protecting the environment and its native inhabitants. “Lek” Chailert, Myanmar has the largest reserves of elephant habitat in Southeast Asia and plays a key role in protecting the species. As with wild elephant populations throughout Asia, the figures for Myanmar vary greatly. In 2000, the Burma Forest Department reported that there were about 4,000 elephants living in the wild, although more recent studies suggest that this figure may be optimistic. It’s estimated that there are over 5,000 domesticated elephants, with the majority working in the logging industry where they drag felled trees from the jungle to the road or river for transport. Logging is hard and dangerous work and injuries are common. In Myanmar, elephants are also used in tourism, agriculture, and during ceremonies at religious and state functions. Burmese mahouts or ‘oozies’ are thought to be the most skilled in the world and traditionally, elephants are held in high regard by the people.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 45
44 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
As a result of Myanmar’s past isolation, few international organizations have been involved in elephant conservation efforts there, but finally, Lek has seen her hard work pay off. The arrival of Save Elephant Foundation (SEF) Myanmar marks the first international foundation to open in the country and works in tandem with the government and the people. The foundation is run by Burmese and supervised by SEF Thailand with the goal of not just helping elephants, but also providing education to empower locals so that they can improve their communities. Priority is given to strengthening environmental protections and regulations regarding animal welfare in the country. An important service offered by SEF Myanmar is providing veterinary care to elephants in logging camps and offering training for Burmese veterinarians at ENP in Thailand. Medical treatment is given to people living in remote villages, and education provided with the hope of raising awareness for the need to preserve the environment and improve the welfare of animals.
“It took a lot of dedication,” says Lek, “but, I always knew that with education, kindness and compassion, we would be able to help not only the elephants in Myanmar but all living creatures. Over more than 15 years visiting the country, and spending time in the jungle at elephant camps, meeting with officials and more, we were able to help people understand the importance of animal welfare, education, and preserving the environment.”
46 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 47
ENP Coffee is all natural, shade-grown, and supports the development of sustainable coffee farming in local communities, with 100% of the profits going towards the rescue of elephants and animal care. In order to meet the demand to provide food for humans and animal agriculture, slash and burn farming, motivated by short-term profits, is common in Southeast Asia and takes a severe toll on the environment. Coffee plants, however, can be grown under the shade of the forest canopy, thereby making it a viable crop that promotes natural ecological relationships, and protects forest habitats from destruction. Our coffee farms are located amongst the mountainous hill tribe villages of Northern Thailand, and only use natural compost fertilizers.
Coffee For Conservation
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 49
ENP Coffee provides an eco-friendly livelihood for hill tribe communities in the region, with an emphasis on supporting women through economic empowerment. The proceeds from ENP Coffee benefit local villages through the construction of schools and much needed facilities. In every respect – from the ecologically sound farming practices that support hill tribe people, to the care provided to animals, right down to the hand-selected ripe cherries – every cup of our coffee is imbued with quality and goodness. ORIGINS OF OUR COFFEE
50 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 51
ELEPHANT CARE RESCUED ELEPHANTS HANDS OFF PROJECT WE NOW SUPPORT ELEPHANT FOOD CHAIN FREE SHELTERS VETERINARY CARE PURCHASE LAND
Our Hands Off project is the first of its kind in Asia and marks another important step towards creating the best possible life for our elephants. From our new skywalk, guests can observe a herd of elephants interacting naturally, undisturbed.
We have more than 100 elephants at our park, most rescued from a life of abuse and neglect. Thanks to your support, we are able to provide them with a better life where they are free to form herds, play, and be cared for with love and respect.
With your help, we now support more than 20 ethical elephant projects throughout Thailand, including around Chiang Mai, in Phuket, Koh Samui, Pattaya, and Kanchanaburi, as well as in Cambodia and Laos.
We purchase huge quantities of food for the elephants, including bananas, watermelon, pumpkins, cucumbers, and several other types of fruit and vegetables, as well as cornstalks - over a ton of food every day!
We build chain free shelters for the elephants to sleep in at night with piles of sand to ensure they are comfortable. With secure night shelters the elephants never have to be chained again, which improves the quality of their lives.
Every day our vets are busy caring for the elephants. This includes treating them for a variety of health issues as well as performing regular health checks for all of the elephants living at Elephant Nature Park.
Elephants require large spaces, and as we rescue more elephants we need more land for them to roam. With your help we are able to secure additional land to support the needs of our growing herds.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 53
2000 CATS
800 In 2011 we helped rescue over 2000 dogs from a historical flood in Bangkok using rented boats to get around the flooded streets. The dogs were trapped on rooftops, desperate for help. Many were too scared to board our boats and so were given fresh water, food, and medical treatment to survive on their own. Over 200 dogs rescued from the floods came to live at ENP. Over the years, ENP Dogs has rescued many puppies and pregnant mothers from the surrounding communities, who were suffering from malnutrition, disease, abuse, and general neglect. DOGS
THAILAND FLOODS
ENP Dogs has also saved many dogs destined for the illegal dog meat trade in Laos and Vietnam. In addition, we’ve rescued over 200 dogs from puppy mills, where the dogs are continually locked up for the purpose of breeding over and over in an endless cycle, never having a chance to live outside of a cage. Most of them are traumatized and have physical problems due to the extreme confinement and exhaustion which leads to a variety of medical problems.
We have also rescued thousands of cats over the years. Many were street cats, dumped by their owners and left to fend for themselves, while others were found living in horrific conditions in abandoned homes. Every cat that comes to our Park is checked for viruses at the quarantine bay before joining the other cats in Cat Kingdom. We are happy that we can provide a safe and caring home for these sensitive animals to live out the rest of their lives, free from harm.
54 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 55
We have a well-equipped mobile clinic, ready to respond to animals in need. Our vet team is ready to help all animals with our free clinic service, especially in areas where there are no animal hospitals. A central focus is to control the stray animal population and to improve their health and well-being. MOBILE CLINIC
Most of the cows living at ENP were rescued from slaughterhouses, while some were rescued by Thai families and donated to our Park. Most of the cows were going to be killed for their meat and many calves were very weak and in terrible condition. Now the cows live free from fear with plenty of food to graze on. C OW S BUFFALOS Many of the buffalo were rescued from the slaughterhouse and some were donated to our Park by locals. Most of the buffalo arrived traumatized and in poor condition. They now live peacefully in herds where they can graze happily in the fields.
We have rescued many rabbits from laboratories where they were used for testing. Sadly, rabbits are commonly used as subjects for testing a variety of different chemicals and suffer a hellish existence. Now they are safe from harm and live in a thriving community. RESCUED RABBITS
WILD BOARS
We care for many wild boars who were rescued from throughout Thailand. Some wild pigs were rescued from the slaughterhouse and others were offered to us by locals. We provide them with a safe haven where they can live happily together in groups with access to plenty of food, including grass and root vegetables, as well as clean water.
In addition, we also care for sheep, goats, horses, rabbits, turtles, chickens and ducks. Some of these animals were rescued from the slaughterhouse and others offered to us from local villagers. Now these animals live in a safe home where they are well cared for and no longer suffer abuse and neglect. Goats, Sheep, Horses, Turtles, Chickens & Ducks
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 57
56 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
FREE CLINIC
FIREBREAKS B U I L D We build firebreaks to protect against forest fires during the dry season in an attempt to prevent devastation caused by fires.
HIRE LOCAL PEOPLE BUY ELEPHANT FOOD We purchase a lot of elephant food from local villages at a good price to help support their communities. We hire local unemployed villagers and provide them with jobs to give them financial support.
Our free clinic is staffed with several vets and nurses, working together to care for animals free of charge. We offer our vet services to anyone who brings their animal to us for sterilization or vaccination. We also have a mobile clinic to bring medical care to remote areas or whenever there may be an emergency call.
FOREST We plant saplings in the rainy season to reforest the area and tie blessed Buddhist sashes around the trunks of trees in the dry season to protect them from being cut down. RESTORATION
Since we opened our clinic we have treated over 2000 animals and provided vaccines to more than 3000 dogs, cats, cows, buffalo, pigs, horses, sheep, goats and others. The success of the clinic has been made possible thanks to the many people who have dedicated their time and expertise along with donated medicine, surgical instruments and various supplies. We are motivated by a desire to help address the many problems faced by animals through providing free treatment to local people who bring their animals to our clinic. We insist that dogs and cats be sterilized to reduce the number of homeless animals living on the streets. Our sterilization service is provided free of charge.
SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT We provide scholarships to underprivileged students from local villages to provide them with a better education, including accommodation and financial support.
PROVIDE STUDY SUPPLIES
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 59
58 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
THAI MASSAGE We offer local women the opportunity to work providing Thai massage by promoting their services to guests at the Park. 100 % of profits go to the masseuses.
EMPOWER WOMEN Support Local Women We provide local women with the opportunity to work as part of a team and develop skills and self-esteem. We aim to empower these women so that they can walk away from bad circumstances and have the chance to socialize with other women, ending their sense of isolation. We help to support women by providing them with jobs and teaching them to earn a living using their knowledge and skills including:
TRADITIONAL DANCE Women from local villages are hired to perform traditional Thai dances for volunteers and overnight guests at our Park.
BLESSING CEREMONY We employ senior women to come and perform welcome blessing ceremonies for the guests at our Park.
60 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
COVID-19 A Jumbo Crisis
In March 2020, Thailand closed its borders to international visitors in response to the Covid-19 pandemic - an action that suddenly cut off the income stream used to care for thousands of Thailand’s captive elephants “employed” in the tourist industry. Since then, many elephants have faced starvation and long unbroken periods on chains without appropriate care.
There were approximately 3,500 elephants across 260 tourist elephant camps in Thailand in January 2020. Initially, when the Thai government closed the borders, many elephant camp owners optimistically assumed that the Covid-19 crisis would last just 1 or 2 months and found themselves unprepared for the long-term impacts, with no contingency plan.
Save Elephant Foundation (SEF), led by its founder Lek Chailert, immediately stepped in to provide support for as many elephants as possible throughout the crisis. It was clear that the situation required a multifaceted approach to safeguard the elephants and the people who dedicate their lives to caring for these majestic giants.
SEF initiated immediate support through a number of projects dedicated to providing help, including an elephant food bank, the farm to herd campaign, elephant foster programs, and upskilling people working with elephants to supplement their income during the crisis and beyond.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 63
ELEPHANT FOOD BANK During the Covid-19 pandemic, Save Elephant Foundation (SEF) responded with an emergency Elephant Food Bank Program to provide critical support to elephants in need. With the demand for these resources growing daily, it quickly became evident that there was a need to develop sustainable long term solutions as the pandemic continued to compromise the ability of so many to take care of their animals. This will allow for the Elephant Food Bank Program to continue providing food for hundreds of elephants across Thailand for the next 2-3 years with the opportunity to extend the program with additional financial support. Thanks to the incredible support of GreaterGood, Trunks Up, the Centre for a Humane Economy, Future for Elephants e.V, along with donors from around the world, we have been able to provide 260 camps and approximately 2,000 elephants with food.
In response, we used a grant from the US non-profit, GreaterGood, coupled with donations to support the lease of land to sustainably grow food at three locations in Thailand.
64 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 65
FARM TO HERD Asian elephants need to eat about 10% of their body weight every day, so maintaining good relationships with local farmers is imperative to the success of this program. Our Farm to Herd Project is a community supported agricultural arrangement between Save Elephant Foundation and local farmers. It is important that we know exactly where the food for our elephants comes from, how it’s grown, and that it is organic and fresh. By working directly with local farmers, we arrange for a variety of crops to be grown that best serve the dietary needs of the elephants with a combination of healthy, high fibre, nutritious foods. During the Covid-19 crisis, many farmers were unable to sell their crops and fruits through the normal supply chains that would usually provide produce to a variety of businesses, now harshly impacted by the shutdown of tourism.
As a result, we have started to work with these farmers to help feed our elephants. We conceived the idea of offering jumbo celebration cakes, which has proven very popular. The cakes have helped
us create jobs for the local community, support farmers by providing an income, feed our herds with tasty treats, and provide the perfect way for our supporters to celebrate a special occasion.
66 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 67
Another response to the Covid-19 crisis was the evolution of our foster care program. SEF partnered with two US based non-profits: Trunks Up (www.jointrunksup. org) & Gentle Giants (www. thegentlegiants.org) to help build programs supporting elephants in desperate need. The foster programs help to provide both immediate support of food and shelter during the pandemic to the elephants at the Saddle Off projects as well as elephants from trekking camps. The programs also create long- term change to ensure the elephants do not have to go back to work in abusive industries when tourism returns. These outreach programs have enabled Save Elephant Foundation to engage with elephant owners and work on solutions for long term change that provide a better life for the elephants and their caretakers. The support of Trunks Up and Gentle Giants has already reached 218 elephants and they continue to bring more under their care, where funding allows. 68 Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022.
ELEPHANT FOSTER PROGRAM
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 69
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, it became clear that many mahouts had no alternative income to support their elephants and families. For decades, they had relied solely upon the tourist industry to survive, and with the decimation of tourism, had no way to support themselves financially. SEF immediately began hosting workshops throughout Thailand to teach mahouts and their families new skills that would allow them to earn an alternative income throughout the crisis and beyond. The workshops included developing skills such as painting, making jewelry, editing videos, and utilizing social media to help promote their work online. All of the products designed by the mahouts and their families are sold via our Elephant Emporium online store, Lazada, Shopee, and by our partners worldwide. RETRAINING & UPSKILLING WORKSHOPS
Each product sold not only helps to support the elephants and mahout families financially, but also gives them new skills that can provide an alternative source of income, independent from the tourist industry. Education and a diversified skill set are the best ways to help them survive the huge challenge that the Covid pandemic has presented. By facilitating these workshops and offering alternative financial support, many elephant keepers have been able to avoid the need to move their elephants into logging or street begging for an income. The workshops have allowed many elephant owners to become more self-sufficient, which helps to ensure the welfare of the elephants under their care.
Save Elephant Foundation Magazine 2022. 71
Save Elephant Foundation
Save and Elephant Nature Park have been at the forefront of animal and environmental protection Elephant Foundation for over two decades. Our projects provide a safe haven and home for thousands of animals, including elephants, dogs, cats, buffalo, cows, horses, goats, rabbits, and more. Scholarships have been given to dozens of disadvantaged children over the years to improve their lives and help their families. Our foundation operates throughout Thailand, as well as in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar. We are supported by several international NGO’s and work in cooperation with many organizations and projects throughout Asia, including in India and Indonesia.
Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21 Page 22-23 Page 24-25 Page 26-27 Page 28-29 Page 30-31 Page 32-33 Page 34-35 Page 36-37 Page 38-39 Page 40-41 Page 42-43 Page 44-45 Page 46-47 Page 48-49 Page 50-51 Page 52-53 Page 54-55 Page 56-57 Page 58-59 Page 60-61 Page 62-63 Page 64-65 Page 66-67 Page 68-69 Page 70-71 Page 72-73 Page 74-75 Page 76Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker