Elephant island Isaan
Partner organisation: Population and Development Association
Domesticated elephants (about 2,000 in Thailand) are often taken into the city by their owners to beg. Most street elephants come from the Isaan, but unfortunately there are no trees left in this area. No food, no habitation, and no money forces traditional elephant families to find income elsewhere in cities like Bangkok. Many domesticated elephants work in trekking camps or in (illegal) logging. On this project we work together with the villages of Baan Pai Noi and Baan Pai Yai (which are close to the island), and our Thai partner organization The Population And Community Development Association (PDA). Together we work on sustainable and elephant-friendly tourism. Which benefits both the villagers and, of course, the elephants!
Economics: The villagers and BtEH plant trees, and for every tree planted money is deposited in the village bank. The villagers will be saving this money, and can apply for micro-financing after six months. This improves the economical situation of the villagers, and of both villages as a whole. For example, there are now several tree nurseries in both villages. Many villages in the Isaan (in northeastern Thailand) are poor. Often rice is their only source of income, and expenses are often greater than the village income. It is impossible for the villagers to improve their livelihood without money, and they cannot get a loan from a bank. Through the village bank all villagers get the opportunity to build a different future.
Elephant friendly: By planting trees a natural environment and food for the elephants is created. And the project creates a positive example of sustainable and animal friendly tourism. Our long-term goal is to persuade more and more elephant owners and mahouts to stop begging with their elephants or let tourists ride on the elephants’ backs. Bring the Elephant Home works to give elephants in the Isaan a better future. Elephants need to be free, be taken care of in natural surroundings, and connect with each other. On the elephant island you can see there is definitely another way. This is not something that can be done in a day, but by taking small steps we will get there!
In November 2008 the elephant Nok Noi was bought free by the villagers of Baan Pai Noi. This made Nok Noi the first elephant on the elephant island.
In May 2009 the elephant Sri Prae was bought free by the villagers of Baan Pai Yai.
The villagers now have a regular income through home stays (staying overnight at the villagers’ houses), and other economical activities involving the elephants. A part of the proceeds goes directly into the bank accounts of the elephants Nok Noi and Sri Prae.
Are you planning a trip to Thailand, and would you like to visit the elephant island and do a home stay? You can book directly with Khun Chutikan Pakaya, head of the elephant committee (044) 660255 (only in Thai) or through Bring the Elephant Home.
Village of Baan Pai Noi: elephant Nok Noi
In June 2008 we could proceed in Baan Pai Noi. BtEH would like to thank the Dutch foundation De Kootje Fundatiën for their financial support to be able to do this.
In August 2008 30,000 trees have been planted on island number one, near the village of Baan Pai Noi.
In the months after the elephant Nok Noi was bought free by the villagers of Baan Pai Noi. This made Nok Noi the first elephant on the elephant island.
November 2008: Nok Noi arrives on the island
December 2008: Nok Noi: the first elephant to have a bank account
Village of Baan Pai Yai: elephant Sri Prae
Thanks to the support of the Dutch development organization Hivos we have created a project together with the villagers of Baan Pai Yai. Thank you so much! This village is also near the elephant island. In may 2009 Sri Prae came to the island. She was born in 1981 and came from Tak, on the Burmese border, where she has worked her entire live in logging. Three years ago she stepped on a landmine. Fortunately she can now live in freedom on the elephant island! She is owned by the villagers of Baan Pai Yai, through the Village Development Bank.
Read Antoinettes report on Sri Prae’s arrival (May 2009) on the island, and the week preceding it, here.
In 2008 the villagers of Baan Pai Yai and Baan Pai Noi went on an eye opener trip.
Hivos supports micro-finance houses that provide millions of people in the South with loans to let them earn a living for themselves. For this Hivos and the Triodos Bank have started the Hivos Triodos Fund. Hivos believes that people can best shape their own futures if they are given the means to do so. Besides this, Hivos takes business development up a step by helping small scale entrepreneurs with training and advice, and in the end improve employment and entrepreneurship. They also work to influence national policies in developing countries to improve access to financial services, especially for poor populations. For the elephant project in Thailand The Population And Community Development Association (PDA) carries out these tasks.
With this project we aim to create more food and a natural environment for the elephants in the village, generate income for elephant families (eg. mahout home stay project, fertilizer or paper of elephant dung), to have an alternative for begging so that in the future the elephants can stay at home.
Village Development Bank
With this project we work together with PDA, to start a rural micro credit project to stimulate development. Each community generates money for a Village Development Bank by planting trees. For each tree planted, a small amount of money is put into a central revolving fund until there is enough for the Bank to begin a business. A Village Development Bank is managed by a village committee that is half male and half female. Before being able to borrow from the Bank, villagers must buy a minimum number of shares, as well as open a savings account at the bank. A savings account pays 6% interest which is much higher than any other major bank. The bank gives loans to individuals or groups (at a low interest rate) to start up income generating business ventures. The trees are inspected after every year of growth and a financial bonus is put into the revolving fund for every tree that is healthy (for each tree that dies, a deduction is made). Half of all its’ profits in the Village Bank go back towards community development activities. These projects promote villager participation in forest conservation and replenishment on public lands and degraded areas.
Click the articles (on the left or below) to read the updates of Trees for Elephants on the elephant island.
Isaan June 2008
Isaan Aug 2008
Baan Pai Noi nov 2008
Baan Pai Noi dec 2008
Elephant Island on Thai TV apr 2009
Next steps apr 2009
