Bring The Elephant Home

8,000 trees planted at the elephant island project

Last weekend Bring the Elephant Home hosted the World Environment Weekend at our elephant island project in Buriram. About 250 Thai volunteers of all ages traveled from far to join the event. During the weekend we managed to establish an elephant food plantation, we reforested three locations with 8,000 newly planted trees of 30 different species, we fed the elephant and shared our feelings and passion for Thai elephants and conservation issues during the candle ceremony. After the weekend the volunteers left exhausted, but satisfied and full of inspiration to create a better world together. Click more to read the details of the event and to see the photo’s.

During the weekend, our new long term volunteers Eric and Mellanie started at the project. For two months they will teach English for the homestay families, the children of Baan Pai Yai and at the local school. But during the volunteer weekend they just joined all our activities and got to know the elephant and the local people.

Saturday after lunch the first volunteers arrived. After the introductions, we started to establish a food plantation for Sri Prae. During the weekend we planted banana trees, and next week we will add corn to the plantation site. One of the villagers let us use her land for free, we plant elephant food on it, she will take care of the plot and we will harvest and buy the elephant food once it’s ready. An easy and sustainable way to get better and cheap elephant food, which is 100% pesticide free and to generate income for the villagers.

At night the villagers organized a welcome ceremony in the village hall of Baan Pai Yai. The local kids performed with their tree planting song that they had been practicing for many weeks. During the candle ceremony we asked the volunteers to share their feelings about Thai elephants and conservation work. A very touching and inspiring ceremony, which created a bond between the participants.

The big tree planting event on Sunday was opened by Mr. Plai Soisaklang (80 years old, won the farmer of the year award in 2010) who planted and blessed the first tree. About 70 overnight volunteers came all the way from Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Kon Kaen and Chonburi. Besides the local villagers from Baan Pai Noi, Baan Pai Yai and Baan Jeh Muang Weau many local students joined as well. The local PDA school Lamplaimat Pattana participated with about 70 students, Nang Rong Industrial Community Education College with 30 students and 40 students from the Agriculture College from Buriram helped us again as the strongest hole digging team.

To have a break from planting, some volunteers went to cut banana trees to feed Sri Prae. Spending time close with the elephant was for most volunteers the highlight of the day. One volunteer works for wild elephants and explained us how we can easily make a salt lick on the island. Since we had an expert participating, we decided to build the salt lick immediately. We finished the tree planting event at the hottest moment of the day. After a refreshing shower, the local kids joined the big bus to send them to the bus station in Buriram. A hour later a tropical rain storm hit the planting site and watered the newly planted trees.