Help us to continue to help the elephants of Cambodia! Currently we are caring for 7 retired & rescued elephants at our sanctuary, while also operating a Mobile Vet Team. Previously reliant on tourism income, ELIE is still feeling the funding shortage due to the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. Funds raised will support the long-term care for elephants, critical vet programs and support the indigenous Bunong communities we work with, while the tourism industry recovers.
Covid had a massive impact across Asia with elephant camps closing, owners and sanctuaries struggling to fund the elephants' care. ELIE historically was reliant on the sustainable ecotourism model we have developed to fund our sanctuary, community and conservation projects. Unfortunately, no tourists = no income. Budgets were slashed for the elephants, as well as our community support & conservation programs. We are slowly getting tourists returning, but we are still very far behind.
We have supported Bunong people to access critical health care and vaccination programs during this period and have managed to keep our sanctuary running during the pandemic, however this has been done by working on credit. To fully recover from this pandemic, we need your help to clear the backlog of expenses e.g. elephant food suppliers. Our goal is to sustain ELIE's innovative elephant welfare, community support and forest protection programs moving forward and build back better than before.
The crisis we now face due to this pandemic is extreme and challenging. Undoubtedly, this will not be the last our organization and the local communities will meet. As Cambodia continues to experience rapid deforestation and biodiversity loss, unfortunately further local crises and global threats may become a reality if we do not adapt and stay focused on the work needed. Surviving this period is critical to be able to continue helping Cambodia's last elephants and providing them sanctuary.
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