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Where is a good place to go and visit elephants in Asia?
Elephant Family does not conduct any tours or visits to see elephants in the wild ourselves, however if you would like to visit Mark Shand's beloved elephant, Tara, at Kipling Camp in central India, contact www.mysticindia.co.uk who can arrange this special adventure for you.
We recognise sustainable, responsible tourism that reinvests in conservation and local communities can have a very positive impact on elephant conservation initiatives. There are many options for visiting wild elephants throughout much of their range, particularly in the national parks of India and Thailand, as well as in Borneo, Sri Lanka and Laos. The Great Projects currently offer 12 day volunteer experiences to see elephant and conservation projects in Borneo, with proceeds going to Elephant Family.
There are also a number sanctuaries that care for captive elephants and offer opportunities to visit them, although we do not endorse any particular sanctuary. While a small number are definitely improving the welfare of captive Asian elephants, the welfare status of elephants in many, sadly remains inadequate. If you are thinking of visiting a sanctuary do research it carefully first.
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Where is a good place to volunteer with elephants in Asia?
We are not able to place volunteers on any of our projects in Asia, as we instead prefer to invest in our local project partners and give opportunities to local people to help their country’s elephants. However, there are a number sanctuaries that care for captive elephants and offer opportunities for volunteers, which you can find out about from searching online. While a small number are definitely improving the welfare of captive Asian elephants, the welfare status of elephants in many, sadly remains inadequate. If you are thinking of applying to volunteer on any captive elephant project do research it carefully first.
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Do you sell any cuddly toy elephants?
No but we sell beautiful model elephants - miniature versions from Elephant Parade London. Please visit the Elephant Parade web shop.
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Do you offer internships at the Elephant Family?
Yes! We take on two interns every six months and we will let you know on our website when we are applying for new interns.
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Why don’t you support African elephants?
Most people are under the impression that wild elephants only exist in Africa with its highly visible population of over half a million. But elephants once roamed in their millions, from Syria to China. However, today it is doubtful whether as many as 35,000 survive in the whole of Asia.
The plight of the African elephant has benefited from an emotional public outrage at the bloody slaughter for ivory. Appeal to help fund its survival have been so lucrative, so positive and widespread, that the Asian elephant, like the proverbial poor relation, has remained in the background, waiting patiently for some crumbs. It seems that the world has forgotten there is another elephant who needs our urgent attention.
Further information:
There are at least ten African elephants to every Asian elephant. While certain African elephant populations are highly threatened, the overall global trend is upwards and they are classified by the IUCN as “vulnerable”; the trend for Asian elephants meanwhile is downwards and they are classified as “endangered”. And yet, African elephants routinely receive more attention and investment than Asian elephants, partly because of the well-publicised threat of ivory poaching. As a result, the plight of the Asian elephant has been somewhat overlooked. For all these reasons, it is our aim to direct all of our limited resources to Asian elephant conservation. -
Why do you give money to animals rather than poor people in India?
Elephant Family recognises that poverty alleviation is a priority in India and elsewhere, and that in some cases alleviating poverty can even help elephant conservation. Where this is so, we work with local communities to help them improve their livelihoods and wellbeing. Even indirectly, much of our work benefits local communities by reducing clashes, which are all too often fatal, between humans and elephants, for example. In terms of the bigger picture, it remains our aim to save the Asian elephant from extinction in the wild, and fortunately there are a large number aid organisations working to alleviate poverty. The financial support that we receive is specifically for Asian elephant conservation, and is therefore not otherwise available for poverty relief.
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What happens after Elephant Parade London?
Thanks to the generosity and support of everyone who saw Elephant Parade London, we raised an astonishing £4.1 million. So what's next? We're going to inject funds into our projects in Asia as well as working towards future Elephant Parade's. Watch this space!
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