Report of trees planting for wild elephants July - August 2011
An update of the activities of our project Trees for Wild Elephants during July - August 2011. We got over a hundred of volunteers of various organizations from Bangkok to help us to finish the tree planting for wild elephants at Salakpra wildlife sanctuary, Kanchanaburi for 2011(4th year). Finally, we reached our goal for this year, of 14,000 extra trees for elephants
Apart from the tree planting, this year we add more activities to improve the habitat of wild elephants and other wildlife, such as the making of artificial salt licks to increase the mineral source in the jungle and a small dam to preserve the water for wild animals throughout the coming dry season.
Click for more photos of our events during July - August 2011.
Although we finished the tree planting for 2011 already, we still need to do re-planting for replacing the dead trees. Also, we still need to arrange tree maintenance for the 14,000 saplings we planted this year, and for the trees we planted the years before. The planted saplings need maintenance every 4 - 6 weeks after the planting day, until the forest recovers (within the next 2 – 3 years). We are still looking for groups of volunteers for all year round, so if you have any network with an interest in conservation, please contact us for more information: dutsadee.nilubol@bring-the-elephant-home.org or call (083) 566 - 5223.
A big thanks to the participating volunteers from various organizations for trees planting for wild elephants at Salakpra wildlife sanctuary, Kanchanaburi during July - August 2011: People’s Garment Public Company Limited, CAEASIA Co., Ltd, IBM Co., Ltd, Office of the Auditor General of Thailand and volunteer club from many companies in Bangkok.
July 30, 2011 Trees planting for 6,000 saplings
Volunteer group from People’s Garment Public Company Limited.
Government officers from the Office of the Auditor General of Thailand.
6,000 native tree saplings for tree planting events in July - August 2011.
The planting sites are 50% in the clear area and 50% under the bamboo shade.
Volunteers enjoyed tree planting at a sunny day.
Mix tree species at the same plot to increase more biodiversity and fruit trees for wild elephants and wildlife.
August 27, 2011 Trees planting 1,500 saplings, artificial salt lick and dam making.
Volunteers from IBM Co., Ltd.
Project staff helped to apply organic fertilizer after the volunteers finished trees planting.
Total 1,500 planted trees on August 27, 2011.
Material for making artificial salt licks for wild elephants and other wildlife to increase the mineral source in their natural habitat. The main materials consist of salt and mineral lump.
The volunteers start with digging a big hole in a circle, 50 - 75 cm deep. Then filling the salt sparsely all around the hole. Break the mineral lump to mix with the soil and the salt. Finally, watering the artificial salt licks to dilute the salt and the mineral into the soil.
Artificial salt licks made by volunteers from IBM company.
Volunteers had lunch and relaxed at the riverside before start making the check dam in the afternoon.
Some of volunteers started with cutting the bamboo to make the natural fence of the dam.
Some of volunteers helped to dig the soil and fill into the sack. Closing the sack with the plastic rope.
Volunteers put the dirt sacks as the wall.
Finally, cover the small dam made by the dirt sacks with big stones and soil in order to make it look more natural.
