The Elephant Nature Foundation works tirelessly to preserve and protect Asian elephants. In addition to providing a safe home for our rescued elephants at Elephant Nature Park, we offer support, advice, office-based resources, and funding to all of the projects under the Foundation's umbrella.
It is our mission to save the Asian elephant from extinction and give domesticated elephants a life worth living by preserving habitat and increasing public awareness on humane treatment practices. In carrying out this mission, we ensure that the best interests of the elephants within the Park are maintained and that their short- and long-term needs are met. We endeavour to extend this same support to the people and elephants within the Jumbo Express project and other outreach projects.
— The Challenges We Face —
Saving the elephants and their natural environment is a major undertaking. Sangduen "Lek" Chailert and a dedicated team of full-time staff and volunteers tackle this mission every day through our work at Elephant Nature Park, Elephant Haven, and Jumbo Express. In addition, volunteers around the world have created a non-profit organization in the UK which solely supports our endeavors.
In spite of our hard work, we still have a long way to go. And the challenges to the Asian elephant in Thailand, both wild and domestic, are numerous:
- Despite a ban on logging, elephant habitat is still being lost
- As few as 500 wild elephants are left within Thailand and they are being threatened
- Over 2,000 domestic elephants, trapped in the traditional elephant tourist industry, have a bleak future
- Babies in trekking and tourism have a low survival rate
- Elephants in tourist camps are not reproducing at a sustainable rate
But there is still hope. Public awareness within Thailand is increasing. The rescued elephants at Elephant Nature Park are thriving. And we remain confident and committed to our goals.
To learn more about our work and how you can help save the Asian elephant, please visit our How You Can Help page.
