Modi Prasad

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Around this time last year, I met a man named Vincent in Sauraha, Nepal. We spoke over dinner, along with a table full of other people, about his plan to start an Elephant Retreat Center in Chitwan.

Over the following year, Vincent contacted me several times, asking for advice and funding. In my last communication I told Vincent that I was returning to Nepal and was looking forward to seeing the status of his project firsthand.

No one I spoke with in Chitwan knew anything about the Elephant Retreat Center. I finally located Sharad, the hotel owner alleged to be involved with the project. We had a long conversation and I am sorry to report what I learned.

Modi Prasad was sold to a buyer in India last month. My heart sank hearing the news. Sharad alleges that he contacted both Vincent and Mary to let them know of the pending sale but, according to him, never heard back from either.

In his blog, Vincent announced that Modi Prasad would retire on October 17, 2010. On the ERC web site, a big red star announces that Modi Prasad is retired. Unfortunately for Modi, he has not been retired but instead was sold to yet another owner and shipped back to India.

Comments

7 responses to “Modi Prasad”

March 21, 2011

Sandra G

I started questioning this organization when they kept sending donation requests every other day. Thanks for letting us know about Modi as sad as it it.

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March 21, 2011

Cora

I remembered reading that you had met Vincent. I never donated to his cause because, to me, something was not right. I have since heard from other elefriends that he might have been running a scam. So sad for Modi Prasad.

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March 22, 2011

sherryheim

I had my suspicions about this man though at first thought I would send him a donation thinking it was just a language problem but as mentioned above, something just didn’t feel right. His methods of asking for contributions were more like a street beggar than a charity. The final straw for me was when he started speaking badly of you, Lek and TES, three groups that I know put elephants first. I posted my concerns to his wall on Facebook and he immediately deleted my comment then blocked me from his site. The most sad part of all of thisis that Modi Prasad was sold.

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March 22, 2011

Beth

I did donate to them in the beginning…..I am so sad for beautiful Modi Prasad….and I thank you, Carol, for always bringing us the truth…

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March 23, 2011

Lisa Wellman

That is such a shame. I had a feeling that something was not right about this Vincent. I noticed he is no longer on Facebook. Poor Modi Prasad.

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1. March 24, 2011
  
  Carol
  
  Vincent is no longer on Facebook and his web site appears to have dissapeared as well.
  
  Reply
March 24, 2011

Ellie

For a few months I followed his plans on his blog but my sixth sense kept going off. I am sorry to hear my suspicions were right. Elephants need all the help they can get. I am sad for what might have been for Modi Prasad.

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