Elephant Aid International

Author: Amy Mayers

  • Two Great Ways to Support ERNA!

    Two Great Ways to Support ERNA!

    CoCre homepage imageTwo terrific fundraising sites are supporting the Elephant Refuge North America (ERNA) fundraising campaign.

    The Animal Rescue site is offering an opportunity to support ERNA and have your donation doubled! For a limited time, a generous donor will match your $8 donation, which will pay for two feet fencing, up to $15,000! Don’t wait – donate today!

    The CoCre website is a storytelling platform to raise awareness and resources for good causes and organizations. The site has launched a fundraising campaign to support ERNA.

  • National Geographic Features EAI

    National Geographic Features EAI

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    A new feature in National Geographic, “Captive Elephants Freed From a Life in Chains highlights EAI’s work in Nepal. Carol tells the magazine that “getting [the elephants] ‘chain-free and pain free’ is a start toward improving the lives of captive elephants across Asia.’”

    Read the story and watch the video.

  • Unchained: New Documentary on EAI

    Unchained: New Documentary on EAI

    unchained poster

    A new documentary on the work of Carol Buckley and EAI improving elephant welfare throughout Asia has been selected for the 15th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival.

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    “Unchained” follows Carol and her team in their quest to enhance captive elephant welfare in Nepal. Using gentle persuasion and showing by example that there is a better way to treat elephants in captivity, Carol takes a phased, pragmatic approach to changing attitudes that relies on winning the buy-in of owners and mahouts (elephant handlers).

    Watch the trailer.

    Learn more from the Unchained Facebook page.

  • UNCHAINED has been selected by the Wild and Scenic Film Festival

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    UNCHAINED a documentary by Alex Rivera has been selected by the Wild and Scenic Film Festival. This film documents the work done by Carol Buckley and Elephant Aid International freeing elephants from chains in Asia. http://www.unchainedmovie.net

     

    14991189_1314057178624640_8083092852116667903_o“Let us remember that animals are not mere resources for human consumption. They are splendid beings in their own right, who have evolved alongside us as co-inheritors of all the beauty and abundance of life on this planet.” – Marc Bekoff

    161027094059-the-ivory-game-2-super-169“The Ivory Game” — a documentary regarding Africa’s elephant poaching crisis — was recently released to bring light to this shocking fact: “An elephant is killed every 15 minutes.” Elephants are suffering due to the cruelty of humans. (Warning: The article contains a graphic image.)

    14566427_1286789894684702_1653308219345432894_o-1Carol trimming Man Kali’s foot as her young son Hem Gaj and mahout Shree watch.

     

  • The Ivory Game

    The Ivory Game

    161027094059-the-ivory-game-2-super-169“The Ivory Game” — a documentary regarding Africa’s elephant poaching crisis — was recently released to bring light to this shocking fact: “An elephant is killed every 15 minutes.” Elephants are suffering due to the cruelty of humans. (Warning: The article contains a graphic image.)

    14991189_1314057178624640_8083092852116667903_o

    “Let us remember that animals are not mere resources for human consumption. They are splendid beings in their own right, who have evolved alongside us as co-inheritors of all the beauty and abundance of life on this planet.” – Marc Bekoff

    14566427_1286789894684702_1653308219345432894_o-1Carol trimming Man Kali’s foot as her young son Hem Gaj and mahout Shree watch.

     

  • After being released from chains, Sundar Kali and Oma Kali were finally able to be together

    After being released from chains, Sundar Kali and Oma Kali were finally able to be together

    14853128_1307064742657217_7607549469663905448_oAfter being released from chains, Sundar Kali and Oma Kali were finally able to be together, to touch and reassure each other, and move freely for the first time in their lives.

    chitwan1With the holiday season approaching, it is time to start thinking about finding the perfect gifts to share with family and friends. This year, consider giving the gift of APPRECIATION for mahouts by sponsoring an elephant and supporting EAI in the name of your loved ones.

    14939401_1308046432559048_2879081422808284583_o45 DAYS UNTIL CLOSING! We are so grateful for the additional time to raise funds for the elephant paradise. Would you like to personally help these wonderful beings? Every dollar matters. Please donate today. Thank you for your continued support.

    elephantpoacResearch from the World Wildlife Fund, University of Vermont, and University of Cambridge has shown that African economies are losing millions of dollars in tourism revenue due to elephant poaching. As elephant poaching increases, tourism decreases. According to the article, poachers murder 20,000 – 30,000 African elephants each year. This brutality needs to end.

    baby elephant“Our prime purpose in this life is to help others. And if you can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.” – Dalai Lama

  • Carol Interviewed by National Geographic

    Carol Interviewed by National Geographic

    Carol interviewed at Tiger TopsDavid Clark, a National Geographic film maker, visited Tiger Tops this week, documenting Carol’s work with elephants in Nepal and at Tiger Tops. Elephants Hira Kali, Sarswoti Kali and Sandra Kali showed off in the water during the interview, while Sita Kali and Gulab Kali weren’t fazed by the limelight and sauntered off to find some greenery.

  • New DJ&T Grant Funds Lambodhar Prasad Project

    New DJ&T Grant Funds Lambodhar Prasad Project

    Lambodhar PrasadElephant Aid International sincerely appreciates a generous grant from the DJ&T Foundation in support of our The Lambodhar Prasad Project: Freeing Nepal’s Chain Gang. DJ&T founder Bob Barker is known for his philanthropy on behalf of animals; EAI is delighted to have the foundation’s support for this revolutionary project.

  • Rhinos and reunions

    Rhinos and reunions

    Chitwan National Park’s annual rhino count is underway.

    50 government elephants, from all over Nepal, take part in the survey. Elephants and their mahouts fan out through the jungle, covering Chitwan National Park from east to west. This is the most effective way to gain an accurate count of the rhino population in the park.

    The elephants benefit because they spend a couple of weeks inside the jungle, day and night. Being immersed in their natural habitat is rejuvenating.

    In preparation for the count, the elephants gather at two central hattisars–Khorsor and Sauraha, the two hattisars where we completed our chain free corrals last week.

    Four boarders arrived at Khorsor yesterday. The scene was mesmerizing. Thanks to our chain-free corrals, families were reunited.

    Simsar Kali and her mother were as one, floating peacefully, side by side, chain free. Tumor Kali was also with them, a threesome of chain-free compatibility.

    Young Amaltari Gaj was also in elephant heaven. He and his mother grazed peacefully, chain free, a tearful reunion of joy.

    Change is happening!

    Below: Mom, daughter and a friend reunited when mom visited from another hattisar.

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  • Changing minds, changing culture

    Changing minds, changing culture

    This release was a surprise to all of us and the reason we build a chain-free corral for each elephant, even if we are told the elephant will remain on chains.

    You just never know what will happen tomorrow. Changing minds, changing culture!

    Yesterday was a day of celebration for EAI and all who support our work. In addition to the work over the past year and a half, culminating in the release of tens of elephant from chains, it was the day you could actually feel the consciousness at the Khorsor hattisar shift.

    Without prompting, Puja Kali’s mahouts released her from chains.

    Earlier in the week, mahouts insisted that Puja Kali could not be released from chains due to her history of aggression. But they brainstormed and decided that if three mahouts were present when they approached Puja Kali, the situation would be safe.

    Without any further discussion they released her from chains.

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    This is a seriously significant turn of events. It is the first time we have witnessed the mahouts trouble shooting a problem, putting the elephants’ needs first.

    The mahouts deserve all the credit!

  • Ganesha Kali and her calf are chain free!

    Ganesha Kali and her unnamed calf were the first to be released in a procession of another seven ‪elephants in our ‪Chain Free Means Pain Free program. Their mahout was surprisingly receptive to having his elephants go chain free. Attitudes are changing. ‪

  • Soon They Will Be Chain Free!

    Mother & calf

    Ganesha and her young calf Kasara Gaj have lived on chains their entire lives.

    Captive elephants are wild animals and an endangered species. The tradition of chaining disregards the trauma this practice causes.

    Chained feet
    But things are changing.

    Thanks to our Chain Free Means Pain Free program, Ganesha and her calf will be soon be released from chains.