From Lao Elephants' Hearts to Yours...

For the last 8 years, MandaLao Elephant Conservation has been working to improve the well-being of captive elephants and working towards protecting and increasing the number of those living in the wild.

Contributions from caring people like you ensure that we can give elephants living in captivity the chance to live as natural a life as possible – free from chains, back-breaking riding, and unforgiving labor in logging camps. With us, they spend time with their herd in the jungle, eating and walking free, bathing and drinking from the cool waters of the Nam Khan river and streams when they choose, and receiving some of the best vet care possible in Southeast Asia. They are cared for by mahouts who use positive reinforcement when handling the elephants.

While COVID-19 was an incredible challenge for most of us, it was no less challenging for elephants, particularly those living in captivity. Without the support from donors and animal advocacy groups like World Animal Protection, we would have struggled to make it through to continue the work we are doing.

Over the past 6 months, 4 new elephants have been rescued and donated to MandaLao. They now look like completely different animals than when they arrived. Simply put, they are happier, healthier, and stronger than ever. While their age and life history filled with traumatizing moments of abuse may preclude them from reintroduction to the wild, it has not deterred us from our long-term mission to begin to reintroduce elephants, who are able, back to the wild. Most notably, our rambunctious and much beloved 7-year-old, baby bull, Kit.

The area in which we plan to begin our wild elephant conservation and reintroduction program lies in the north of Laos. While it is currently an unprotected area, our team has been collecting images with 45+ camera traps spread across a large swath of jungle and lowland feeding areas. So far, more than 30 elephants have been identified, including many newborns, juveniles, and family groups. Situated on the border of a National Protected Area, and with the government excited by the idea of extending it, we believe it is the ideal place to begin rebuilding wild populations in Laos.

Whether you, your family, or your friends have visited MandaLao, the support, care, and compassion you have shared with us is what allows us to make these changes in elephants' lives across Laos and, hopefully, soon across its borders. We extend our deepest gratitude to you – our extended family – and with your contributions, we will continue to work together to make this a better world for elephants and, in turn, ourselves.

Please enjoy this trailer from the award-winning short documentary film "Walking Each Other Home." Made possible by the Lao Elephant Initiative and featuring MandaLao Elephant Conservation, World Wildlife Fund for Nature, Laos Animal Doctors International, and World Animal Protection. We will be sharing a link for the full-length documentary in the near future.