Elephant Sanctuaries in Peril
Donation protected
There is currently an estimated 3,700 elephants and their mahouts now suffering terribly because of the Corona-crisis. If we don’t support them through financing a safe and healthy life there is a very real chance these animals will starve to death.
Travel bans, anxiety and fear mean that there are now virtually no travelers visiting which is obviously having a massive impact on cashflow. With no income, these locations simply can no longer afford to operate.
The alternatives to our funding are that the elephants are once again forced back out on to the streets to beg for money and food – something that we’ve worked very hard over a number of years to completely outlaw. We also believe that the elephants located in the less-ethical camps will remain chained for many hours each day, if not all day. The more ethical camps will struggle to feed their elephants, especially when you consider that an adult will consume up to 300kgs of food each day. Many elephant homes have already been forced to let go of their elephants and mahouts.
Because of the obvious reduction of travellers to this area of the world, it's impossible for us to continue the support we've been delivering for the last 7 years. With no guests arriving, we simply have no income.
Whilst this is obviously a very tough period for the trunk team, it's a heartbreaking time for our elephants, their mahouts and the communities who rely on our help. Our only remaining option now is to reach out to a global audience and ask for help raising essential funds that will be used to fully to keep these elephants safe, healthy and fed.
UPDATE – in the hope that we can generate more income we have decided that every penny we receive we will double that in discounts on any future trunk trip. You can see our offerings here – www.trunk-travel.com/experiences. For example, if you can donate £50, you’ll automatically save £100 off the cost of a trunk experience at any time in the future.
In addition to simply giving us money in the hope that we’re true to our word is an incredible and fun initiative that we’ve created - #datewithanelephant
What is A DATE WITH AN ELEPHANT?
This is a unique, private, virtual event that allows you to experience our elephants from the comfort of your own home. Through a simple online phone call using one of the many video call platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime etc. you will learn about who we are, the sanctuaries and how we care for these incredible animals. You’ll get to meet and feed the elephants and find out more about these amazing places.
Our aim is to make this a global movement. We urge all other sanctuaries around the world that are caring for animals to copy this and increase their much-needed income.
Find out more here - https://bit.ly/FBLinkElephants
Customer Review
Maaike VanVeen booked a date for her family from Holland “My children are all off school due to school closures and we are running out of things to do already. I saw this come up on Facebook and I thought what a fantastic idea! We can do something fun together as a family and know we are benefiting these creatures and helping them to be cared for. The date was so much fun, my children learnt loads and the trunk team are amazing at what they do. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Money is tight now but knowing it is going to a good cause makes it so worthwhile.”
About trunk
Trunk specialise in operating expertly curated ethical and environmentally aware tours across Thailand, Cambodia, India and Vietnam. Dedicated to proving that responsible and positive travel solutions are the future of travel distinguishes them from other destination management companies which led them to win LUXlife Magazine’s ‘Best Eco-Tourism DMC in South East Asia’ 2020 Award. Trunk has been recognised for their life-changin programs, such as their ethical elephant tours in Thailand.
We offer life-changing experiences for travellers looking to enjoy impactful, off-the-beaten track holidays, but who also want to travel responsibly and make a difference and we have operated programs for over 10,000 travellers since our conception in 2013. During that time each person, community and animal we work with has benefited directly from how we operate. Trunk is delighted to be associated with the Asian Captive Elephant Working Group (ACEWG).
John Roberts, from the Helping Elephants Organisation, was contacted by trunk; “We own one of the largest elephant sanctuaries out here in Chang Mai, Thailand and saw what trunk were doing. We think this idea is just incredible and we applaud them for thinking outside the box in this global crisis. We need some positivity at this scary time and this has helped the elephants immensely already. I can see this taking off around the globe and benefiting all other sanctuaries, not just elephants, but all animals. We all need to come together to make sure we can still support and care for one another, thanks to trunk, I can finally see some positive light and the end of this dark tunnel
Travel bans, anxiety and fear mean that there are now virtually no travelers visiting which is obviously having a massive impact on cashflow. With no income, these locations simply can no longer afford to operate.
The alternatives to our funding are that the elephants are once again forced back out on to the streets to beg for money and food – something that we’ve worked very hard over a number of years to completely outlaw. We also believe that the elephants located in the less-ethical camps will remain chained for many hours each day, if not all day. The more ethical camps will struggle to feed their elephants, especially when you consider that an adult will consume up to 300kgs of food each day. Many elephant homes have already been forced to let go of their elephants and mahouts.
Because of the obvious reduction of travellers to this area of the world, it's impossible for us to continue the support we've been delivering for the last 7 years. With no guests arriving, we simply have no income.
Whilst this is obviously a very tough period for the trunk team, it's a heartbreaking time for our elephants, their mahouts and the communities who rely on our help. Our only remaining option now is to reach out to a global audience and ask for help raising essential funds that will be used to fully to keep these elephants safe, healthy and fed.
UPDATE – in the hope that we can generate more income we have decided that every penny we receive we will double that in discounts on any future trunk trip. You can see our offerings here – www.trunk-travel.com/experiences. For example, if you can donate £50, you’ll automatically save £100 off the cost of a trunk experience at any time in the future.
In addition to simply giving us money in the hope that we’re true to our word is an incredible and fun initiative that we’ve created - #datewithanelephant
What is A DATE WITH AN ELEPHANT?
This is a unique, private, virtual event that allows you to experience our elephants from the comfort of your own home. Through a simple online phone call using one of the many video call platforms such as Skype, WhatsApp, FaceTime etc. you will learn about who we are, the sanctuaries and how we care for these incredible animals. You’ll get to meet and feed the elephants and find out more about these amazing places.
Our aim is to make this a global movement. We urge all other sanctuaries around the world that are caring for animals to copy this and increase their much-needed income.
Find out more here - https://bit.ly/FBLinkElephants
Customer Review
Maaike VanVeen booked a date for her family from Holland “My children are all off school due to school closures and we are running out of things to do already. I saw this come up on Facebook and I thought what a fantastic idea! We can do something fun together as a family and know we are benefiting these creatures and helping them to be cared for. The date was so much fun, my children learnt loads and the trunk team are amazing at what they do. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Money is tight now but knowing it is going to a good cause makes it so worthwhile.”
About trunk
Trunk specialise in operating expertly curated ethical and environmentally aware tours across Thailand, Cambodia, India and Vietnam. Dedicated to proving that responsible and positive travel solutions are the future of travel distinguishes them from other destination management companies which led them to win LUXlife Magazine’s ‘Best Eco-Tourism DMC in South East Asia’ 2020 Award. Trunk has been recognised for their life-changin programs, such as their ethical elephant tours in Thailand.
We offer life-changing experiences for travellers looking to enjoy impactful, off-the-beaten track holidays, but who also want to travel responsibly and make a difference and we have operated programs for over 10,000 travellers since our conception in 2013. During that time each person, community and animal we work with has benefited directly from how we operate. Trunk is delighted to be associated with the Asian Captive Elephant Working Group (ACEWG).
John Roberts, from the Helping Elephants Organisation, was contacted by trunk; “We own one of the largest elephant sanctuaries out here in Chang Mai, Thailand and saw what trunk were doing. We think this idea is just incredible and we applaud them for thinking outside the box in this global crisis. We need some positivity at this scary time and this has helped the elephants immensely already. I can see this taking off around the globe and benefiting all other sanctuaries, not just elephants, but all animals. We all need to come together to make sure we can still support and care for one another, thanks to trunk, I can finally see some positive light and the end of this dark tunnel
Organizer and beneficiary
Steve Williams
Organizer
Graham Williams
Beneficiary