EAI is thrilled to introduce our very first EleAmbassador, Bryce St. Onge! Bryce is a 4th grader from Windsor Elementary School and the initiator of this youth program. His passion for elephants started when he was quite young. As you can see from the video, he clearly wants to help improve the lives of these magnificent beings.

We are pleased to partner with Haley Militzok, a talented artist and EleAmbassador, to offer a new item in our gift shop Tarra’s Treasure Trunk. These beautiful note cards feature an original watercolor by Haley and are the product of her heartfelt journey.

Haley’s Story: “I found Elephant Aid International in a roundabout way. I was watching Tik Tok and saw a video about cute elephants and started thinking about how sad it is that they are endangered. This was on my mind when I had to choose a charity for my Mitzvah Project. In the Jewish religion, girls have a Bat Mitzvah when they turn 12 or 13. It is common to do a mitzvah (good deed) by volunteering or raising money. When I was thinking about an organization that I would like to help, I started researching elephants. I never knew about all the mistreatment, the chains, the abuse, or the neglect. I was horrified by what I read. I came upon Elephant Aid International and saw that they have a refuge just one state over in Georgia! I knew immediately what my Mitzvah Project would be. Art is my passion and I painted an elephant that my mom then scanned and we ordered notecards with the image. I sold the notecards to family, friends, classmates, and teachers at my school. My goal was to raise $500 and I was so happy that I not only met my goal, but went beyond it! I was able to purchase a stainless-steel sink and faucet for the elephant barn. The cards continue to sell and I plan to buy more items from EAI’s Wish List in the near future!”

Packs of three note cards are available for a $10 donation in Tarra’s Treasure Trunk.

After several years of Kelly Childers’ 2^nd grade class voting Carol’s Tarra & Bella: The Elephant and Dog Who Became Best Friends as their favorite book, Kelly invited Carol to surprise her Robert E. Cashion Elementary class with a visit! “I feel Tarra & Bella wins so often because the students can identify with the theme of friendship, love and acceptance,” said Kelly. Carol gave the Greenville, SC students a live lesson as she read her book and discussed the deep bond between Tarra and Bella. Afterwards, one of the students said, “Ms. Childers, this is the best day ever!” to which Kelly noted, “As a teacher, you cannot ask for much more!”

On April 29th, Nepal imposed a 2-week lockdown in response to the increase in COVID cases. But as numbers continued to rise, the lockdown was extended until June 21st.

Some of our colleagues have lost family members and their concern is running high. Through it all, the mahouts we work with at Direct Aid Nepal remain strong, healthy and continue to provide excellent care for their elephants.

Seasonal monsoon has added familiar challenges for the mahouts. Although the rain is welcome, as rice fields were recently planted and fresh grass for elephants is abundant, everything is constantly wet. The mahouts remain on high alert in case they need to evacuate themselves and their elephants in the event of flooding.

With responsibilities heavy on their minds, it is good to know that our Positive Reinforcement Target Training program remains popular. Perhaps it is the positive distraction, the endorphins they experience while having fun with their elephants, or the pride they feel when their elephants engage so readily. Whatever the reason for their commitment, we are thankful the mahouts and elephants continue to engage in the regularly scheduled sessions and benefit from this welfare enhancing program.

To keep the program running smoothly and to provide continued education for the mahouts, we teach remotely. While the sun crests the horizon in Georgia, on the opposite side of our planet, the elephants return from the river in Nepal as we connect live to share our passion. It is such a pleasure to see how much fun the mahouts experience excelling at this new skill. While the elephants voluntarily participate, laughter, positive vibes, and multiple languages combine as mahouts receive guidance and elephants gobble up tasty treats. It is a joyful scene, a win-win situation with mahouts learning more humane skills while caring for their elephants.

This program has proven sustainable thanks to the mahouts’ enthusiasm, our continued remote tutoring, and your contribution of buckets of fresh fruit. $10 covers the cost of these treats for one day of training sessions. We plan to continue providing the treats until we return to Nepal in the Fall. To sustain this essential program that is vital to improving elephant welfare, click here and join in the joy!

For years, the commercial use of elephants for rides and shows has been the focus of criticism by animal activists. In no country was the commercial use more prevalent than in Thailand. Over the past two decades, Thailand has built their tourism around elephant rides. But what the welfare movement could not do, COVID-19 has. The question is what will become of the elephants who are viewed only as revenue generating vehicles?

National Geographic recently published an article that describes the situation in Thailand.

A few models for change exist—innovative programs that put elephant welfare before profit. If you are interested in progressive humane models of elephant care in Thailand, check out Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary and Mahouts Elephant Foundation. These two programs were designed with the needs of the elephant first and foremost. No huge crowds of elephant enthusiasts, just respectful observation of these amazing animals we find so enchanting.

Elephant Aid International | elephantaidinternational.org