Photo by Raissa Lara Lütolf (-Fasel) on Unsplash
Endangered elephants in Sri Lanka are losing their habitat every day. As a result, they go into the dumpsters that are within wildlife areas, those same areas which used to be their homes. Over 300 Asian elephants roam around these lands in search of food. Thirty have died already. Will you give them a hand?
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This is an image I took during a trip I took to Chitwan, Nepal. Sadly, the elephant safari rides are widespread and popular. Look closely at the right hind leg of the elephant. A big scar where she has been consistently chained is evident.
Some 32 million people around the world support a campaign driven by Save The Asian Elephants (STAE) to stop elephant tourism cruelty. But why is this the case? Isn’t it fascinating watching them perform, bathing with an elephant or even riding one? You’ll be sure never to support this type of entertainment after you learn what these elephants had to go through.
Join me this week as I share a positive way in which we believe you have made a difference towards potentially ending elephant tourism cruelty in our lifetime.
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A remarkable feel-good story on how over 100 working elephants went back to their forests thanks to the US nonprofit Gentle Giants. Image: Gentle Giants
When COVID-19 temporarily shut the tourist industry in Thailand, Gentle Giants founders, Colby Steiner and Diana Muñoz, found a way to keep those elephants who had started the long journey back to their villages in their forests. The goal is to keep them safely there, all 106 of them for good.
Read their story. Spoiler: Bookmark this page, you will want to be a part of it too!
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This photo was taken during my recent trip to Chitwan, Nepal. Image © Diana, The Elephant Soul
These 5 trusted organizations are recognized for the humane values they promote and for their legitimate concern over the welfare of elephants living in captivity. Their work is crucial to ensure that they continue to support an ethical treatment of elephants in their areas of influence. All of them are registered non-profits.
Learn what they’re doing to help elephants in India, Thailand, Nepal and Laos and why they need your help today.
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These happy elephants live their life in retirement at Nepal's only elephant-friendly resort. This place is Tiger Tops in Chitwan National Park. Image © Diana, The Elephant Soul
When ethical principles become the basis of our decisions, the tourist industry in Asia will have to yield and change their practices. Some have already done so! There have been new developments and I’m excited to share the information of those venues offering ethical and humane elephant interactions in Thailand, Cambodia and Nepal. No elephant rides of course!
Come join me as I also share 5 reasons why we should be [truly] concerned about Asia’s captive elephants and 5 ways in which we can all help.
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Lucky Kali taking a dust bath. She is the first working elephant in Nepal to ever retire. Image © Association Moey
Throughout my years as an advocate for elephants living in captivity, I have come to know about the elephant welfare organizations shared here and believe their work is sound and much needed in the areas where they’re located. Additionally, I have researched each of the companies listed here to make sure that I include them as responsible alternatives for fun gifts to consider giving out on this World Elephant Day.
Thoughtful gifts and donations in honor of our loved ones also help spread the word about the elephant cause. Check these out.
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Tour operators, travel agencies, resorts and elephant handlers around Asia offer tourists the “exciting” opportunity to ride an elephant . Many say it is the “green way” to experience nature and spot wildlife. However, this is far from ideal as these elephants are kept in miserable conditions in order to work for tourists. Many have complained in online forums that the elephants were mistreated and beaten during the ride, or that they felt very guilty because they saw the elephants tightly chained afterwards. Most wish they had known before about the issue.
You can put your compassion into action. Here are the most appropriate ways to interact with elephants in captivity.
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It is widely known that elephants are kind, patient and gentle sentient beings; but do we know the depths of their wisdom, compassion and loyalty?
The purpose of today’s article is to share bits of research and evidence on what makes elephants so extraordinary and why we, as expats, women and caring humans, need to do more to protect them. The first thing we can do when we travel to Asia is not participate in elephant rides or elephant shows.
Read on to find out more about the emotional lives of elephants.
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