Caring for Cambodia's elephants during Covid

What's happening at ELIE & The Elephant Valley

In April we brought in the Khmer & Bunong new year with a bang!! After a busy start to the year we were all energized and staff were celebrating the Khmer and Bunong traditions with gusto. The elephants were doing ok, despite a very very hot dry season. We were buying in extra food as the long dry season peaked at the end of April, and we all celebrated when the rain drops started to fall at the end of May! The forest drank it in and started sprouting new leaves in June, much to the relief of human and elephant alike. 

Unfortunately, moving into May guest numbers dropped and we had our lowest June in over 10 years, likely impacted by the closure of the border due to the unrest near the border with Thailand. Conflict between the two nations increased in June and July, with a ceasefire currently holding. 

Through it all, we remain incredibly proud of our dedicated team, who stand strong amidst the lingering effects of the pandemic and now the regional uncertainties. Your ongoing support is vital, it allows us to continue caring for the elephants and the indigenous Bunong community, who depend on the forest they share with these magnificent animals.

Big News!! Save the Soul Sisters: A Forever Home for Doe & Darling

Our very own Doe and Darling - two deeply bonded elephant “soul sisters” in their 50s and 60s - future is under threat. 

Over the years you’ve been a major supporter and cornerstone of our mission to protect Cambodia’s elephants. Because of your generosity, we’ve rescued ele’s, supported the community, restored forest habitat, and helped elephants like Doe and Darling begin their healing.

Doe (Gee Bloh) and Darling (Bong Kong), two elephants currently resting peacefully at our sanctuary, are facing a heartbreaking turning point. Unless we raise the funds to officially rescue them, their family may be forced sell them back into city tourism or close-contact camps.

We can’t let that happen.

We’ve launched a new campaign Save the Soul Sisters: A Forever Home for Doe & Darling. These two lifelong companions deserve to live out their final years in peace. Together, we must raise $70,000 to secure their permanent sanctuary at EVP. We currently have raised close to $25,000 and we have $45,000 to go. 

Join the Soul Sisters Movement → https://elephantvalleyproject.org/save-doe-darling/ 

Elephant Conservation Program

Mobile Vet Team Project - Thanks to the generous support from Lady Freetinker, we have secured funding to restart our mobile veterinary clinic. This has enabled us to respond quickly to the needs of local elephants. Recently, we visited a village elephant in need, we successfully treated an elephant's eye, demonstrating the positive impact our care can have.  We are confident that local elephant owners feel comfortable reaching out to us whenever their elephants are sick or injured. This trust allows us to provide timely and appropriate care, improving the wellbeing of these treasured animals and strengthening the bond between the community and the forest.

Captive Elephant Care & Rehabilitation @ the Elephant Valley Project. 

• Our Staff member Norm has been working on foot training with the elephants a lot. All elephants now are able to lift their front feet and are being desensitised on touching. The next step is doing some treatment and training to put their back feet up. We are incredibly proud of Norm. 
• Pearl is slowly putting more pressure on her foot and seems less itchy. Her leg injury is nearly healed but she still has some issues on the bottom of her footpad. Also her bum looks much better. She still gets her daily treatment and is cooperating very well, but still scratches her bum on a tree regularly. She still loves having her daily mud bath and always finds the best mud to put on herself. 
• Ruby still gets daily medicine for her eyes which seem stable. The medicine is helping her to keep them clean and moist and without pressure and pain. We still keep an eye on them. Luckily she didn't seem to have any problems with her stool anymore. She is getting probiotics and tamarind to make sure her stool stays soft and smooth. We see Ruby and Pearl more and more near each other, enjoying eating the same almond fruits or bamboo plants, but they are still not best friends. 
• Hen is doing well. His face abscess is ongoing, but looking good. As Hen is moving around well in the hot season, we stopped his hot water compress on his hip. We may restart this in the cold season, but at the moment he is moving around well. Towards the end of June Hen was going into a mini musth, which is a sign of overall good health. 
• Ning Wan is doing very well and is still thriving in the jungle. You will often see her rumbling and touching with her beste Gee Chreng. Now the rainy season has started and the grass is sprouting, she is not as focussed on the arrival of her boost feeding as she was in the dry season,as she is filling up on free green sprouts. We are monitoring her weight to make sure she stays healthy. 
• Gee Chreng loves being near her good friend Ning Wan. Together they patrol the forest to make sure the fresh bamboo is being eaten. It looked like she had some discomfort with her teeth and after some treatment she is doing better. Norm also managed to get her feet up the fence with the training and that was a great achievement given the fact she was scared of the targetpole, a leftover impact of her previous trauma from tourism. With slow dedicated love and compassion, we can heal these elephants and they learn to trust again.  
• Doe and Darling are always wandering around in the forest. We could move them back to Heaven Valley when the wild elephants were not around anymore. Most of our visitors love following them around when they do what elephants do best; eat! They are many people's favorites. 

Natural Resource Protection Project

With the arrival of the rainy season, conditions were ideal for tree planting and we made the most of it. This quarter, we planted a significant number of Beng trees and continued cultivating T’nong saplings in our growing nursery. Our efforts didn’t stop there; with the help of visiting groups, we also transplanted bamboo and planted papaya trees to further diversify the elephant forest. This ongoing project not only contributes to reforestation but also helps protect elephant habitat and support long-term biodiversity in the valley.

Ecotourism & Education Program - Elephant Valley Project 

Ele Education Days - On July 4th, we proudly hosted another Elephant Education Day, a highlight for our team. These special days are close to our hearts, as we believe the next generation plays a vital role in shaping the future of elephant welfare and conservation. We welcomed 19 bright and enthusiastic children from Srei Primary School,  who spent the day learning about elephant biology, welfare, and the importance of protecting wildlife. They took part in an interactive quiz, a conservation-themed treasure hunt, and of course, had the unforgettable experience of observing elephants up close. If you want to fund or sponsor another school to visit, please contact us.

Hosting Groups - We were also excited to welcome four educational groups this quarter. The School for Field Studies visited with our yearly Elephant Ecology Course, with a focus on elephant research and conservation. Veterinarian Dr Trish London came over to teach them all about Elephant health and more in depth health checks. The remaining three groups were from international high school programs, immersing themselves in learning about elephant care, local conservation efforts, and the rich cultural traditions of the Bunong community. Each group that comes through EVP leaves with a deeper understanding of conservation and a stronger connection to the elephants and communities who call this forest home.

Rice for Forest Protection
Every month, 78 Bunong families receive rice in exchange for allowing the elephants to roam freely through their traditional forest lands. This program not only provides essential food security but also reinforces the protection of vital elephant habitat, ensuring that conservation and community wellbeing go hand in hand.

Emergency Healthcare Support
When urgent medical needs arise, your donations make a real difference. Whether it's transporting someone to the hospital in Sen Monorom for a serious illness or supporting a mother in labor, your contributions help provide critical access to care when it's needed most, saving lives and bringing peace of mind to our remote communities.

Thank You

Every healthy step an elephant takes, every protected tree standing tall, every Bunong family supported. It’s all made possible by you. Your generosity echoes through the forest, in the gentle rumble of elephants, in the laughter of schoolchildren, and in the quiet strength of our community. We are deeply thankful for your continued belief in our mission. Together, we are not only safeguarding elephants and forests but also nurturing a legacy of compassion and coexistence.

From all of us here in the valley, thank you for walking this path with us.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The EVP Team

Links:

• Save Doe & Darling
• Visit the Valley

Dear Friends of EVP,

The start of 2025 has brought a renewed sense of hope and momentum to the Elephant Valley Project. Thanks to your continued generosity, we are seeing positive change across the sanctuary — from growing visitor numbers to healing elephants and thriving community partnerships.

We’re incredibly grateful for your support. It’s because of you that we’re able to keep our sanctuary alive and strong — caring for the elephants, protecting the forest, and supporting the Bunong community who share their lives with both.

Elephant Conservation Program

Captive Elephant Care & Rehabilitation @ the Elephant Valley Project

Your donations directly support the daily care, enrichment, and healing of our resident elephants.

• Expert Foot Care Returns - In March, elephant foot-care specialist Steve Koyle from Elephant Care Unchained returned to EVP! Picking up where he left off, Steve reintroduced positive reinforcement training and provided targeted foot treatments, while also training our local team to continue this critical work.
• Pearl has made fantastic progress with her long-standing foot and leg injuries. Her daily treatments continue, and she’s cooperating wonderfully.
• Ruby is adapting well despite her eyesight challenges. With daily eye treatments and attentive mahouts, she’s navigating the forest confidently. We’re keeping a close eye on her dental health.
• Hen is healing well from his facial abscess. He’s responding positively to treatment (and especially enjoys his hot water compresses!).
• Ning Wan, our elderly matriarch, is still full of character and speed! Her bond with Gee Chreng remains strong. Due to dental issues, her food is carefully prepared, peeled and chopped for easy digestion.
• Gee Chreng will remain with us for at least five more years, thanks to a renewed contract with her family. 
• Doe and Darling are as curious and playful as ever. We moved them to a new valley for safety due to the presence of a wild bull. Their friendship remains strong, and bamboo is still their snack of choice.

‍ Mobile Vet Team Project

While limited funding has kept our vet team close to EVP, they remain on-call for emergency care across the province. Your support ensures we’re always ready when help is needed.

Natural Resource Protection

With your help, our tree nursery continues to grow! We're currently nurturing native species like Beng, T’nong, and Wild Almond — seedlings that will soon help reforest critical areas of Mondulkiri.

‍Ecotourism Program - Elephant Valley Project 

Thanks to rising visitor numbers this high season, EVP is gradually regaining its strength after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been heartening to welcome more guests, volunteers, and school groups back to the valley. Their contributions — from hands-on help in the nursery to maintenance around basecamp — play a vital role in keeping things running and supporting our mission of ethical elephant care and forest conservation.

We also proudly hosted four school and educational groups, including one weeklong stay. These immersive visits are not only educational but also help spark a lifelong passion for conservation and respect for Bunong culture among the next generation.

That said, while ecotourism is beginning to rebound, it still covers only part of our monthly budget. The reality is that our operating costs remain high — from medical care for our elephants to forest protection and community programs. Donor support continues to be absolutely essential to fill the financial gap and ensure we can maintain a high standard of care and conservation year-round.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity, which truly keeps EVP going when tourism alone can't.

Community Support Program

Your donations reach far beyond our elephant herd.

• Rice for Forest Protection - Each month, we provide rice as compensation to 78 Bunong families for allowing the elephants to roam their ancestral forests. This staple support helps families put food on the table while protecting critical habitat.
• Healthcare Access - When emergencies strike, your support allows us to transport community members to hospitals in Sen Monorom. Whether it's a difficult illness or a woman going into labor, your contributions have helped save lives.

On Hold Programs (Awaiting Funding)

• Elephant Education Days
• School Support Project
• Community Development Project

These programs make a huge difference and we hope to restart them soon — with your help.

Thank You

Every healing elephant, every planted tree, every family supported — it’s all because of you. We are endlessly grateful for your belief in our mission. Together, we’re building a more compassionate, sustainable future for elephants, forests, and communities.

From all of us at EVP — thank you for being part of this journey.

With love from the valley,

The EVP Team

Links:

• Visit the Valley