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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
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 … [Read more...]
Soon They Will Be Chain Free!
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 … [Read more...]
A change in diet
Sundar Mala is nearly 70 years old and resides at the Sauraha hattisar in Chitwan, Nepal. Recently she began to lose weight, resulting in her removal from her friends Loctandra Kali and Oma Kali, to … [Read more...]
Help Us Keep Wild Elephants Wild and Captive Elephants Safe!
Thanks to your support, EAI is nearing the completion of its year-long project to free 63 working elephants from chains. Elephants who have spent decades shackled by chains are now free to roam … [Read more...]
The Work Continues to Get Elephants Off Chains
Good news! Baby Tec Gaj was released from chains. Unfortunately, it is not all good news because his mother, Puja Kali, was not. Two-year-old, captive-born Tec Gaj and his mother Puja Kali … [Read more...]
The Suffering Continues At Nepal’s Top Tourist Destination
EAI has been "boots on the ground" in Nepal for nearly five years. Initially, much of our efforts were focused on improving welfare for the privately owned elephants used for tourist … [Read more...]
Progress Involves Three Steps Forward and One Step Back
Partnering with people and organizations with shared goals is key to success as a foreign NGO working in Asia. Since hurry up and wait is a culturally accepted norm, an ample supply of patience and … [Read more...]
Why Does That Elephant Have A Chain Around His Neck?
For the past few years, most of my time and energy has been devoted to freeing captive held elephants from chains. Working alongside Nepali partners, we have created 37 chain free corrals, in 15 … [Read more...]
Elephant Back Safaris: Misery for Elephants
May 24, 2014, 8:30AM, Sauraha, Nepal. The temperature is already 32 degrees Celsius (about 90 degrees Fahrenheit). Tens of elephants are already hard at work. Each morning at dawn, seven days … [Read more...]
Five Elephants Freed!
Two years ago, a young captive born elephant broke free from an ancient tradition. That was Prakriti Kali, the first elephant in Nepal to be released from chains. Six months later, five more … [Read more...]