Elephant island volunteer weekend May 1-3, 2009
For our project in Buriram, we need volunteers that would like to help creating elephant habitat and experience the arrival of a new elephant. Everybody is welcome to join!
It’s important and rewarding work to create alternatives for street begging elephants. If this project succeeds, we can bring more elephant home in the near future.
Activities
During the volunteer weekend, we are bringing the second elephant to the elephant island. We need volunteers to prepare the arrival of the elephant and to create more living space and food for the two elephants. The elephant island project just started, so many jobs needs to be done. During this weekend, you have the possibility to spend time with the elephants and the local people, plant trees, harvest food, and learn about the Trees for Elephants project and Isarn culture. See the schedule for the details.
Accommodation & food
You’ll stay with your Isarn family for that weekend. In the house you will have a private room with your roommate, with fan and mosquito net. Be aware: no aircon, and it’s hot during this season! We provide all meals (Isarn style), water, coffee, tea. If you have special requests, such as vegetarian food, please let us know in advance. Snacks and other drinks can be bought in the village.
Transportation
We will pick you up at 2 P.M. at Buriram bus station (the bus from Bangkok leaves at 8.30 A.M. from Mo Chit bus station, search for the company Nakorn Chai air, the drive will take about 6,5 hours).
Schedule
Friday, 1/5/2009
8.30 A.M.
Volunteers take the bus from Bangkok
Preparations elephant arrival
Preparations volunteer program
2.00 P.M.
Pick up of the volunteer group
2.30 P.M.
Arrive in the village, welcome drink, check in homestay
3.00 P.M
Briefing about Tree planting method/ technique, trees maintenance after planting and monitoring. Light nursery work:
- Seed pretreatment , structure and germination
- Potting seedlings and caring in the nursery
5.00 P.M.
Welcome by village leader and villagers Baan Pai Yai
5.10 P.M.
Presentation project and activities during the volunteer weekend + DVD Return to the Wild (Antoinette)
6.30 P.M.
Dinner
8.30 P.M.
Traditional welcome ceremony
Saturday, 2/5/2009
7.30 A.M
Breakfast at home
8.30 A.M
Go to fresh market to buy vegetable and fruit for elephant
9.00 A.M
Go to harvest and bind grasses sheaf for elephant
10.30 A.M.
Go to Surin to meet the elephant
12.30
Lunch in Surin province
1.00 P.M
Arrival in Surin
2.00 P.M.
Leave with new elephant in the truck
4.30 P.M.
New elephant arrival
5.00 P.M.
Feed / bath the elephants
7.00 P.M
Dinner
8.30 P.M
Thai dance and performance by the village youth groups
Sunday, 3/5/2009
8.00 A.M
Breakfast at home
9:00 A.M
Elephant food planting on elephant island.
12.00 A.M.
Picnic (Isarn food) near lammas river
1:00 P.M
Feed the elephants and walk with them.
4:00 P.M
Good byes
5.00 P.M.
Last bus to Bangkok
10.40 P.M.
Arrival in Bangkok
About this project
Village development project to create natural elephant habitat and develop elephant friendly tourism.
Most street elephants come from the Isarn, but unfortunately most of the trees disappeared in this region. Lack of food, habitatio and money forces elephant families to find income elsewhere, sometimes even in cities like Bangkok.
With the support of BTEH the villagers will turn part of the Lammat water park it into a true elephant island. It is the perfect place to plant trees, to let elephants roam freely. We started animal friendly tourism, that includes a homestay in the village, taking care of the elephants and the environment and Isarn culture.
Partner organization: the Population and Development Association
Find more information about this project here.
Costs
The cost of this weekend is 2,800 Baht per person. This covers two nights homestay accommodation, food, trees to be planted, entertainment and a donation to the elephant fund.
Note: for Thai people / groups that would like to participate, but with limited budget:
Please contact us to see if we can find sponsorship. We welcome all. For participants with enough budget: we have a donation box for the elephant fund!
Click here for driving directions from Bangkok to Lam Plai Mat, Buri Ram, Thailand; 336 km – about 5 hours 15 mins.
To register for this unique event, please fill in this application form and email, fax or send it to us:
If you cannot join this event: these tree planting events are coming up soon:
Salakpra Wildlife Sanctuary- Kanchanaburi: June 18, 2009
Khao Yai National Park: June 23, 2009
Elephant Island Buriram: June 28, 2009
