The advancement and encouragement of the ethical treatment, welfare, and veterinary care of the Asian elephant in Thailand will only occur through education. One of STEF’s principle aims since it was set up has been to promote education both to the people of Thailand and internationally. With these objectives in mind, the Trustees set up an initiative called PLACE2C, to sponsor group visits, particularly of children, to approved and ethically-
based elephant centres in Phang Nga Province.
In December 2018, we sponsored our first PLACE2C group visit and asked the Yaowawit charitable foundation, that cares for disadvantaged and marginalised children, if they would like to visit the Phang Nga Elephant Park, run and owned by STEF trustee Jakrapob Thaotad.
Yaowawit School is the home of 138 children, aged 4-18, offering a holistic (body, mind and spirit)
education and pre-vocational training in hospitality and agriculture. Its mission is to provide life skills to help children in need to become open-minded, confident, caring and happy human beings. The STEF offer was accepted with alacrity, and we were delighted to arrange the day at no cost to Yaowawit. Local transporters offered to help with special rates for the transport, and the Park, which was closed to other visitors for the day, generously provided food and staff giving the students a very full and constructive programme.
Twenty students aged 7-12 were able to meet the elephants, learn about them and participate in a wonderful range of educational activities. The students learned about the history, management, welfare and healthcare of the Asian elephant and its essential role in Thai culture. They saw how to make elephant food balls, which can be used as supplements, and were able to meet and feed some of the
magnificent elephants at the Park. The value of elephant-human interaction is critically important and it was wonderful to see the children responding to the feel, smell and touch of these magnificent animals. An arts and crafts session was included, with prizes for the most creative and distinctive elephant art.
Finally the students had a chance to plant elephant grass as a thought-provoking way of giving something back to the animals that are such a treasure of this great country. STEF provided a souvenir bag for each of the visitors as they left.
We will carefully assess the success of this visit, and hopefully will be regularly inviting other special school groups to participate in our PLACE2C programmes. Will you support our efforts in education? Please click here.
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The Trustees of STEF have approved a proposal to prioritise the building of an Elephant Veterinary Centre at Ban Ton Sae in 2019.
There is an urgent health and welfare need in this part of Southern Thailand where there is no alternative veterinary facility to serve some 600 domesticated elephants, and the nearest elephant hospital is over four hours’ drive away. STEF plans to create a safe, well-managed veterinary centre for elephants that need veterinary care, or are no longer able to work through age or illness,
or that have become a burden to their owners.
It is still only a plan, but we have commissioned an architect to produce drawings for the clinic. We have identified the site for the building and and funds already raised in 2018 have allowed us to clear the land and prepare it for building works.
You can see us here measuring out the land.
The work will be staged and will progress as we can afford it. We will start with a covered yard with concrete base, stocks and an off-loading barrier.
We will also lay a suitable access track, include an isolation unit and build a small office, storeroom and laboratory.
The Centre will be a Community Support Project that will benefit elephants and their owners over a 50-mile radius. STEF Thailand will work closely with the local people, and especially with veterinarians who will be welcome to use the clinic. Please follow our News items and we will keep our supporters regularly updated as the planning proceeds.
We do need the help of our friends too. Please help us to help these magnificent animals in a practical and important way.
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We are delighted that STEF Thailand has now been formally registered by the Government of Thailand as a Charity. As our sister charity, STEF Thailand is now able to receive donations in Thailand as well as to apply for charitable funds and gifts. STEF Thailand’s stated aims include the health and care of elephants, to provide education and understanding about the elephant, the ancient traditions associated with them in Thai culture, to undertake research that can be directly applied in the field, and to provide a home for old or disabled elephants and those unable to work or live normally in the Southern Province of Thailand.
The land at Ban Ton Sae has been transferred to STEF Thailand enabling this beautiful site to be developed by a non-profit organisation solely in fulfillment of the charity’s objectives.
There are three founder trustees. Jakrapob Thaotad, pictured left with STEF President, Sir Richard Armstrong, has been appointed Chair of the charity; Jake is also a trustee of STEF and you can read more about him on this website here.
He is joined by Dr Siraya Chunekamrai (right), an internationally renowned Thai veterinarian, who was educated at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University and Cornell University in the USA; in addition to her two practices (The Animal Farm Veterinary Hospital, a small animal practice in Bangkok, and the Horsepital Equine Hospital), she founded the Lampang Pony Welfare Foundation in northern Thailand
and the Cambodia Pony Welfare Organization based in Phnom Penh. She is currently Vice-President of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association.
The third trustee (left) is Mr Adisak Keanghere, a distinguished lawyer who lives in Krabi; Adisak is also a farmer, has a great fondness for elephants and believes strongly in the importance of education.
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STEF Chair, Dr Andrew Higgins, paid a visit to Ban Ton Sae this month to see for himself the progress that is being made in developing the land for
elephant care. He was given a full tour by fellow trustee, Jakrapob Thaotad, who is managing the development and whose
sharp and creative eye has led to the design of the land and its landscaping so that it is not only ideal for caring for elderly elephants and those in need of help, but also so that Ban Ton Sae can be a centre of excellence for education and research.
Dr Higgins said “I have been amazed at what Jake has achieved since my last visit
in February. All of the rubber trees have been removed, the ground has been cleverly landscaped, new grass has grown dramatically quickly, and the trees planted before the rains have all taken root. Jake and his small team have worked incredibly hard to achieve so much in such a short time, and we must now do all we can to keep raising the funds to keep up the momentum for this project
that is so important for the elephants and the community of Southern Thailand”.
During his stay, Dr Higgins also discussed priorities and how best to identify the next stages of the work. If you can help, please give what you can by clicking here.
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As part of the STEF objectives of sustainability, we are developing the hilly slopes at Ban Ton Sae for cultivating the crops we shall require for our elephants and humans. We need to grow rice, pineapples, bamboo and elephant grass and this will require careful agricultural management. But our aim is to grow all our needs on our own land.
Because the land is hilly, we must use terracing. A terrace is a sloped plane cut into a series of platforms or steps. These are hugely important in our climate as they minimise erosion and can support the growing of crops that require irrigation, such as rice.
The famous Ifugao Rice Terraces in the Philippines became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995 as theyillustrate the remarkable ability of human culture to adapt to new social and climate pressures as well as to implement and develop new ideas and technologies. (Photo right from Wikipedia).
Our terraces are on a very small scale but have already been carved into the hillside. They will be fed by the natural springs on site. In the old days, such terracing was very labour intensive but modern machinery has made it relatively easy for us. We can almost visualise what the hills will look like once the first crops appear. We also think the terraces really enhance the hilly terrain, replacing the vast number of rubber trees and palm oil trees that were grown there previously.
Here on the left is a picture to suggest what it may look like next year.
If you can support our work, please donate. Any gift, large or small, will be very much appreciated as we strive to create an ecocentre for elephants in Southern Thailand. Just click here.
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STEF Trustee Peter Laurie has been working in animal welfare since he graduated from Oxford University. You can read about his background if you click here. We thought we would ask him a few questions about what drew him to STEF and how he sees the charity developing in the future.
Q.: So, Peter, what got you interested in STEF?
Peter: I have long held an interest in conservation and the environment, particularly in Asia. The chance to get involved in a new charity, seeking to help one of the region’s most culturally important but endangered animals was too good to miss. I also hope to help STEF through my experience working in and supporting a range of other animal welfare charities.
Q.: Thank you. What do you see as the most important part of STEF’s mission?
Peter: STEF has two main priorities: education, which is the cornerstone of animal welfare; and direct conservation. We aim to combine the two by supporting a new conservation park at Ban Ton Sae near Phuket.
Q.: How often do you visit Thailand?
Peter: I visited Thailand for the first time this February, to learn more about STEF’s work and the challenges facing the Asian elephant. I am looking forward to becoming a regular visitor to this beautiful country. My happiest memory is of the sun setting and as the clouds begin to form around the peaks of the jungle-covered hills, watching from close quarters a herd of elephants bathing in a clear shallow stream – it was simply a fantastic sight that I shall never forget.
Q.: We will look forward to your further visits. How do you see STEF expanding in the future?
Peter: Developing the Ban Ton Sae site is a major and hugely exciting project, and STEF will be supporting its development and growth so that it offers an increasing range of services and support for elephants in need of help. In the years ahead, we expect to be able to help them to add a much-needed animal healthcare centre as well as education and visitor facilities. But we are of course open to supporting other projects and initiatives that fit in with our charitable objectives. Our mission is to deliver a sustainable future for Thailand’s elephants.
Q.: That is so important. Thank you. Any other thoughts?
Peter: STEF gives elephant-lovers a rare opportunity to support the work of a brand new conservation park with a refreshing approach and attitude that will deliver care and protection for Thailand’s elephants for generations to come. It is so inspiring to see the progress that is being made and all donations – large or small – are truly welcomed by the trustees.
Q.: It is wonderful to have your support. Thanks for the chat.
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Elephants are the most well-known animal in the animal kingdom and, like horses, have been used by humans for thousands of years. As long as elephants have been cared for by humans, their health care has been of great importance.
Sanskrit literature is rich in systematic studies in elephantology and the first known treatise on elephant health was written over 2000 years ago. One of the most famous veterinary books was written in 1910 by Lieut.-Colonel G. H. Evans, Superintendent of the Civil Veterinary Department, Burma.
Today there are some very good and experienced elephant veterinarians in Thailand and around the world, but they are few and far between. Thailand has am number of dedicated elephant veterinary hospitals but there is only one in the South located between Krabi and Trang and about 100 miles from our Ban Ton Sae site. It is good to know this centre exists but in an emergency it would be wonderful to have a clinic nearer to hand.
As part of our plans for Ban Ton Sae we plan an elephant health centre, not only to help our elephants, but also to serve the community for many miles around. It will be the only one of its kind in the area that specialises in the health and well being of the Asian elephant. This building is therefore one of the most important to be built at the Ban Ton Sae site.
So far, we have been able to clear the ground and level it ready for the foundations to be laid.
We will make progress as and when we have the funds to move to the next step.
The clinic will have all that is needed for the loading and unloading of elephants, their treatment and sedation, as well as recovery and isolation units. A full time elephant veterinarian and vet nurses will be employed to ensure the best quality of care.
As an education centre, we will provide mahouts with basic basic care training and will welcome veterinary students as part of their extramural studies.
We will be launching an appeal for the veterinary centre soon and will need your help to reach our targets.
Please consider showing you support NOW through a donation by clicking here to help us through the design and planning stages for this important centre.
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STEF’s Mission is to promote “the ethical treatment, and high health and welfare standards for the Asian elephant in Thailand” but also “to raise awareness of the elephant, and its welfare needs, through education and to encourage human-elephant interaction.”
Education is the corner-stone to all good animal welfare.
In our new facility, we will have elephants of course but we will also be there to educate – not only visitors but also Thais –
especially children, people with special needs and all who want to learn more about the Asian elephant and its importance in Thai culture.
Our plan is to start with a small Education Centre at the Ban Ton Sae site. We need to raise the money for this of course, but so far we have been able to make a small start and level the ground ready for foundations to be laid
The Education Centre will include a variety of educational materials for all to enjoy and learn about elephants. One of the features will be a real Asian elephant skeleton, revealing the inner workings and amazing skeletal structure of this magnificent animal, and to demonstrate how they are perfectly adapted to life in the jungles of Thailand. We will also have models to explain the history of Thailand’s elephant populations as well as information boards and teaching aids, alongside our own guides.
Threats to wild elephants and conservation efforts surrounding the worlds largest land mammal will also feature in the education centre, along with ideas focusing on what we can ALL do wherever we are to help protect the elephant and its native habitat.
We truly want the STEF Education Centre to be enjoyed by anyone visiting the site and to be an education hub for local schools and for students studying animal
care, welfare, conservation and the veterinary sciences. Professional or aspiring vets, vet nurses and mahouts will always be welcome.
To thank all of our donors, we will include a board of plaques commemorating everyone who contributes to the building and running of STEF to give the elephants of Thailand a place to call home.
If you would like to support STEF please click here to donate whatever you can, large or small. We value every baht.
From using solar panels to create clean renewable energy to using recycled rainwater to create our elephant pools, sustainability on the Ban Ton Sae site is one of the ways STEF will become a sustainable environmentally friendly haven for our elephants and guests to enjoy.
One of the ways STEF will ensure sustainability is to grow the food for the elephants on site. An area of land has already been sculpted for this purpose and as you can see from the picture (left), levels have been carved into the earth to create giant steps where rows of crops can grow and be rotated.
Deforestation is the biggest threat to the Asian elephant in the wild. Plantations for crops such as rubber and palm oil (products used widely in western countries) are one of the causes for the destruction of elephant habitats. We have cleared all rubber trees from our site and by growing our own food for the elephants we can ensure this land is reused sustainably and no areas of primary forest are cut down to provide the crops.
We plan to grow bamboo and Napier grass (also known as elephant grass) to feed
them on site but the elephants will also be taken into the forest to forage for themselves. Elephants need a range of foods to meet their dietary requirements and foraging encourages natural behaviours.
Why bamboo? Well bamboo (right) is classified as a grass, is extremely strong (big species are often seen being used as scaffolding on construction sites), and it is said to be the fastest growing plant on earth (some species grow up to 0.5m per day). It is sometimes called a ‘pioneer species’, as it creates humus-rich soils and so is of great value in forest habitats. Elephants are very fond of bamboo shoots, seedlings and leaves.
Elephant grass (above left) is a perennial forage crop that also has a fast growth rate, high productivity and has good nutritive value. It is a very good grass for cut and carry systems – and elephants, who do not just eat what is available, but actively choose what to eat, love it as you can see.
If you would like to help us feed our elephants and support sustainable reforestation you can sponsor a tree or area of grazing turf on our website by just clicking here.
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Why raise money for electricity supply lines or diesel-powered generators when we have the sun?
Solar energy is green
and clean and produces minimal harm to the environment.
STEF hopes that the Ban Ton Sae site can be powered completely by solar energy, maintaining the tranquility and naturalness of the elephants’ jungle home while providing electricity for essential needs such as water pumps and lighting. In Thailand, the sun is a wonderful source of energy. But as everyone knows, Thailand also has the rainy season for six months of the year although this must not deter us. Although heavy cloud cover will reduce the solar energy that reaches the ground, light still gets through the clouds and modern technology ensures that solar panels absorb both direct light and diffuse light. After all, we wouldn’t be able to see anything on a cloudy day if light wasn’t getting through!
Actually, rain is quite helpful with solar panels as it washes away dirt and debris such as bird droppings, leaves and pollen that otherwise would cover the panels and reduce efficiency.
So, we have decided to plan for a solar energy source at the new elephant centre. We are sure this will be so much better than the expensive and environmentally disturbing erection of power lines from the mains electricity grid which is several miles away. The panels will have virtually no impact
on the natural wildlife and their use will help us to minimise our carbon footprint. Producing our own energy in-house will also reduce reliance on third parties, helping us to be sustainably self-sufficient. In any case, the grid can be rather unreliable in the monsoon rain with frequent power cuts!
With an average of over eight hours of strong sunshine every day between November and April, we think we have the potential to produce more than enough energy required for our needs.
This is a hugely exciting prospect and we have already started to survey the site to identify the best location for the panels – they must be on high ground to get the most sunlight during the day, and solar batteries will store the excess energy generated for use at night.
Of course all of this will cost a lot of money and we will be asking our wonderful supporters to help us meet the costs of adopting this sustainable, clean energy solution for our work – and for our elephants. If you can, please help and donate just £10 by clicking here.
We’ve been working hard to devise more plans for the elephants’ new home, but there is so much more to be done! Keep an eye out for exciting new developments that will be revealed over the coming months on the website’s News page!
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