Trees For Elephants

Elephant World – one thousand trees planted

June 17th -The group of Dutch students of the Green Campus, Thai students from Kanchanaburi, and other volunteers have planted almost one thousand trees at Elephant World. Make holes in the ground, plant trees, fertilize, drink some water, make more holes, plant more trees, fertilize… all in the Thai heat. Hard work, but very much worth the effort. Because of the trees, Elephant World will have more food for the sick and abused elephants being cared for. After the planting, the students and the other volunteers could join the elephants in the river. Which they loved, of course. Read on and see the photographs.
Elephant World is led by veterinarian Samart and his wife Fon. Four elephants are in permanent care. The Thai government also brings in street elephants whose owners have been arrested for begging. One young elephant has just arrives, and keeps swaying back and forth from the stress of having to beg in Bangkok. Slowly he calms down.
The Dutch students have collected no less than 4,500 Euros for the projects of Bring the Elephant Home. Part of the proceeds have been donated to Elephant World for a grass plantation, in which the elephants will then be able to graze freely. Vet Samart and Fon are very pleased with this. Recently, the elephant Ouan has been taken care of. Thanks to the Dutch couple Jan and Agnes. Ouan has had to beg for a while at the bridge on the river Kwai. Tourists and residents of Kanchanaburi have contacted Bring the Elephant Home several times about the poor situation of Ouan. At first Jan and Agnes arranged that Ouan would at least have enough to eat while begging at the bridge. But in the end they managed to buy her free.

After planting the trees, the volunteers take a swim with the elephants in the river. A beautiful surrounding, a feeling of well-being after all the work, and finally contact with the elephants… The volunteers cannot get enough. We set up camp near the river, along with the elephants. Around the campfire the night is spent talking about all the adventures.