Elephant island on Thai TV today
From 11 to 13 March 2009 our elephant island was visited by a television crew of the Thai national television channel NBT (Channel 11). The crew makes the program “วิถีชนบท” (The local way of life), this time about the development of elephant friendly and local tourism. Because of this, the television crew itself stayed at the villagers’ homes. Antoinette was interviewed about Bring the Elephant Home’s role in this project, about elephants in Bangkok and about creating alternatives so that elephants don’t have to beg anymore. In the documentary – which has been broadcasted on the 8th of April on Thai television – the elephant Nok Noi is followed as well. Daily activities, such as feeding, bathing and taking walks to graze, give a nice impression of the surroundings, the animal friendliness and the volunteer activities.
The district leader was also interviewed by the television crew, about his project to promote tourism in his region and about his opinion on our project. Of course, the projects link up nicely together. The district leader also said he will further stimulate the project, by buildingshelters on the elephant islands, for example.
At night the television crew stayed in the village, just like the tourists who book a home stay. The villagers organised an Isaan welcome ceremony, there was Thai dance and diner together with the villagers. The next day the television crew went to work in the nursery of the Trees for Elephants project 2009: seed germination, growing, potting. The tourists who have come to Baan Pai Noi untill now, do that through Bring the Elephant Home and thus are foreigners. The villagers hope that Thai tourists will also visit the project. The TV program certainly helped, because after the show, we got many phone calls from people that would like to visit.
Are you going to visit Thailand and do you also want to experience this home stay? You can book directly at Khun Chutikan Pakaya, head of the elephant fund committee (0… (only in Thai) or through Bring the Elephant Home.
NBT has broadcasted the documentary April the 8th. We will put a part of it on our website soon. This project is set up and executed by the villages Baan Pai Noi en Baan Pai Yai, partner organisation PDA and Bring the Elephant Home. The villagers now have regular earnings from the home stay project and other activities. With all these activities, part of the earnings goes directly to the bank account of the elephant Nok Noi.
Camara crew NBT ready to start.
Interview with a free roaming Nok Noi in the back.
Nok Noi eating.
