Aims of Trees for Elephants
The amounts of living space and food for elephants have shrunk in such a way that extinction looms. Around 1900 there were about one hundred thousand elephants in Thailand. The estimated 1,500 wild elephant remaining today, eat the crops, and get into conflict with the farmers. Domesticated elephant (probably about 2,000) are often taken by their owners into the cities to beg. At the Elephant Nature Park we too face the consequences of deforestation. Because there are not enough trees, the elephants cannot graze enough.
Everywhere there are elephants, there are too little trees. So the plan for Trees for Elephants took shape. The elephants at the Elephant Nature Park could use more trees. In other areas of Thailand there are also projects going on to provide wild elephants and street elephants with more living room and food.
Aims of the Trees for Elephants project in Thailand:
1. To protect and extent elephant habitat;
2. To reduce conflicts between elephants and humans;
3. To involve Thai public in nature conservation and animal protection;
4. To grow food for elephants;
5. To develop alternatives for street begging elephants;
6. Reforestation, with many environmental benefits.
