What animal represented the Chinese year of 2019?

FRIDAY, APRIL 3, 2020

Post-crisis theatre always bounces back

Fears raised for elephant welfare as trekking camps fold FORGOTTEN GIANTS

Keeping elephants healthy and fed is now a priority. Photo: Elephant Nature Park

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Keep Fido happy under COVID-19 lockdown

Dire fears for the welfare of thousands of elephants throughout the country have been raised with elephant trekking camps being forced to close due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

The order issued by Phuket Governor Phakaphong Tavipatana last Saturday (Mar 28) to close all zoos and other places where all kinds of animal shows are shown on the island affected about 180 elephant camps in Phuket, explains Louise Rogerson, who was instrumental in setting up the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, the island’s first full no contact elephant reserve.

“The mass closure of the elephant camps in Phuket has left hundreds of elephants in danger of being chained up continuously at the camps,” says Louise, who has also worked with captive elephants in Thailand and Cambodia for The Phuket News editor1@classactmedia.co.th

over a decade and successfully spearheaded campaigns for their welfare and release and established the Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival (EARS) Foundation. She is now the Project Director of newly founded Tree Tops Elephant Reserve in Phuket.

More dire is the concern that many elephants will suffer severe malnutrition from lack of food as owners will not be able to buy food for them, with no tourists paying for the privilege of feeding the majestic animals, she adds.

In Phuket alone, the order to close the camps and the lack of tourists has placed about 280 elephants at risk, she says.

“About 100 elephants from Phuket have already been taken to Phang Nga as there is more food there for the elephants,” Louise explains.

“We are very worried about the coming months. We rely solely on tourism for our financial income to feed our seven elephants at Tree Tops Elephant Reserve, and we are worried about the elephants at other camps, too,” she says.

“All the elephant camps and sanctuaries are now closed. Most of the camps that cater to Chinese visitors have been closed since early February.

“The elephants will now have time to rest from giving rides but this is bittersweet as most elephants will now be chained for long periods as there aren’t any customers and therefore no work,” she adds.

“It a very difficult and worrying situation for all the animal projects that rely on tourism for their income to feed their animals, pay their mahouts, tour guides, and staff.

“It’s expensive to feed elephants. The main source of grass is pineapple grass, most of which is brought from the mainland. The mahouts also go out to cut grasses, but it is getting scarce as the land is very dry. There is a shortage of water, and we are in a drought.

“At the moment we must focus on feeding our elephants at Tree Tops but we definitely would like to help the situation for all the elephants in Phuket too,” Louise adds.

The Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival (EARS) foundation has set up a fund to help provide provisions and care for elephants at risk, and Louise urges people to make donations through the foundation’s website: https://www. earsasia.org/donate

Meanwhile, Saengduean “Lek” Chailert, owner of Elephant Nature Park and founder of Save Elephant Foundation, believes many of the closures of elephant camps will be permanent.

“I have been to visit many of the camps and the situation is very serious,” she says.

The Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai – and many other camps in Thailand – have closed their doors due to the current situation, which apart from resulting in unspeakable hardship for the elephants, could seriously hurt Thailand’s tourism industry in the future if no support is forthcoming soon. Continued on page 10