Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Please be Careful!

As you know, the elephant is in trouble, across the globe actually, and needs your help!  Please give of your time and your money.  Gentle reader, do not worry this blog is not becoming a fund raising vehicle.
Should Elephants walk tight ropes for our entertainment? 

Street Begging; bad for the elephant and dangerous too! 
Having said that, please contribute to the welfare of elephants but please be careful that your money actually goes where you intend.  If you like an organization other that Save the Elephant Foundation / Elephant Nature Park, that's fine. Beware of 3rd party organizations.  Some are legitimate, some not.  Just check with your chosen organization.
More circus tricks for the human amusement 
For confirmation, especially regarding the Save Elephant Foundation / Elephant Nature Park just drop into the office in Chiang Mai.  If that's not practical I'd suggest you contact Phyl Kirkland at phylkirkland@hotmail.com or contact her on Face Book  Phyl is actually with Elephant Nature Foundation UK and has done wonders for the elephants!  

Medo and Ahsee at ENP March 18, 2011
As I've reported in the past there have been instances of money not going where it was intended.   I'm happy to report that one of the cases I alluded to has been satisfactorily resolved.  

Now there is another danger lurking.  This one does not directly effect the Elephant Nature Park or any other legitimate organization.   This one is come at you from a man claiming to need money to rescue elephants in Nepal.  More specific information can be found on Carol Buckley's excellent web site:  http://www.carolbuckley.com/elevisions   Once there, at Recent Posts click on Modi Prasad.

Abundant Blessings, 


Monday, March 28, 2011

Elephant Tortured in England!

Please read the story and watch the video about Anne the elephant.  If you think this is as unacceptable as I do, please repost and support the initiative by Animal Defenders International to remove this elephant.  Please Help Anne the elephant.  I have added a link to Animal Defenders International.  Anne is their current top story!

Friday, March 4, 2011

A Day Trip to Anantara - Golden Triangle

Have you ever been to the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa?  The good news is that I did get to go, the bad news is that I could only stay a couple of hours. They have a marvelous facility, great food and elephants!  Minor International, Anatara’s parent company,  is a big supporting factor for the elephants. You can read all about this at www.helpingelephants.org if you are interested.  I contacted John Roberts and arranged to come and have lunch on March 3, 2011.  The day was not ideal for John because he was extremely busy with a very large group.  Still he was an ideal host.
This lunch choice was recommended by Connie - Delicious
John introduced me to Connie Speight and Kristy Boyce. Kristy is a Canadian photojournalist who I hope to get to know better at some point.  We have a common interest; the Asian elephant. Connie Speight, a Santa Barbara lady, is responsible for the rescue of no less than 11 Asian Elephants.  (Connie mentioned that they are currently working on rescuing an elephant in Laos; #12).  The 11 include 1 in Cambodia, 2 in Laos and 8 in Thailand.   Please take time to read the website at www.elephantsumbrella.org  The stories of these elephants can be found at the www.elephantsumbrella.org  Connie is a marvelous lady who does great work; next time I see her I hope it’s for more than a few moments!

Connie Speight

John Roberts


The Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa was hosting a large group and we had the fun of watching them bath with the elephants.   Here the tourist has a chance to learn from the mahouts and to ride on the neck of the elephant or in a saddle.  Personally I like the operation and the people I met on my all too brief visit. 
Two Shots in 3 seconds! 

Rebekah 

Elephant Under

Bath Time

My official plan of record is to return as some point in the near future.  While relaxing and enjoying the ambience will be high on the priority list, higher will be spending more time with John Roberts. I find John to be a man from whom I can learn.  He has a common sense approach to life, business, conservation and the elephants he serves.  
Good Friends

Play Time