Donate now for the Jungle Fund Jan 2009
After years of searching for land to expand the Elephant Nature Park, we finally have some very good news: Lek got in touch with a politician who has bought a large piece of land in order to protect it from further deforestation. The property is about 100 acres (!), surrounded by protected forests, and has a number of streams running through it.
With Bring the Elephant Home we would love to help make this elephant dream become a reality. This is why I truly hope that all our sponsors will donate a special gift for our ‘Jungle Fund’ . If all our donors would help us again, the Elephant Nature Park can immediately buy the land an we can get started with a Trees for Elephants project on the new property.
Please make an online donation for the jungle fund!
It truly is an elephant’s paradise; check the photographs at the end of this message. I hope I can count on you again!
The land is beautifully situated. It is a 3 hour walk from the Elephant Nature Park, crossing two mountains. A lovely hike. We can organize the land completely to our own ideas. It is of the upmost importance that we start planting trees as soon as possible. The plantations have to go, and biodiversity has to be restored quickly. The water reservoir the villagers have build on the mountain to irrigate the plantations, can stay for now. As well as the sprinklers that were put on the slopes for the same reason. It is not entirely natural, but this does let us plant throughout the year.
Picture: the surroundings of the property: protected forests.
It is situated on a mountainside and partially forested. The villagers, who used the land up to now, have burned large parts to build plantations. There are a number of cabbage plantations, and several newly planted rubber trees. Furthermore, the land is used for hunting. The politician wants to protect and reforest the area, but doesn’t have the means to do so. That is why he came to Lek.
The thing to do this year is planting trees that attract birds and other wild animals. This way the natural seed distributors will automatically come our way from the neighbouring forests, and plant more trees for us. The coming years we will use the property as “Elephant Haven”. The elephants won’t be able to move there yet, because we have to do a lot of planting, and we have to gain the trust of the villagers.
To truly turn this area into an elephant’s paradise we have to work hard in the years to come. We will set up a plan within the framework of Trees for Elephants, and have this piece of land reforested within 5 years. This will be a large volunteer project. The volunteers will be able to stay on the new property and get to work for Trees for Elephants at the same time. The more volunteer work power we have, the faster and cheaper we can realize this project.
To house the volunteers we are planning to build huts in several enormous trees, from where they will have a view across the entire area. To include the villagers in our project a tree nursery will be set up in the village; this will create the necessary jobs. Besides this, the villagers can also be hired to protect the area. Strict supervision is necessary to make sure several regulations are observed. Forests can no longer be burned down, there can be no more hunting, and the use of pesticides is forbidden. In the past these pesticides have been used lavishly; because of this the ground is heavily polluted, and it will be a huge challenge to return it to an acceptable level.
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But it will be worth the effort. It is truly a beautiful piece of land surrounded by dense jungle with many old trees, which has become an unusual site in Thailand. And it is much needed! Because the Elephant Nature Park is coming apart at the seams, and to be able to take care of more elephants we really need to invest in expanding the park NOW.
With all the means available to us, we can really turn this into something beautiful and permanent. Please help the Elephant Nature Park to be able to buy this elephant’s paradise in the making. I hope I can count on you again! Click here to donate for the Jungle Fund!
Picture: dense jungle on the new land, connected to protected forest.
Picture: necessary to reforest this area, great potential Trees for Elephants location.
Please help the Elephant Nature Park to be able to buy this elephant’s paradise in the making. I hope I can count on you again! Click here to donate for the Jungle Fund!
