Q&A with President Bilaibhan Sampatisiri
- What initially sparked your interest in elephants and how did it lead to the establishment of "Treasure Our Elephants"?
It all began with the adoption of a baby elephant nick-named Luk Kaang. I was finally persuaded by friends to adopt a baby elephant under the Elephant Adoption Project offered jointly by the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang (now re-named the National Elephant Institute) and the Treasure Our Elephants Fund.
Like the average person, I had only seen an elephant from the distance and had a somewhat vague and detached feeling about it. However, as children, we're taught to care for all living things with whom we share this earth. We're taught that it is a noble thing to be able to do good for others, particularly animals because unlike us, they are not blessed with the gift of speech.
So we headed off to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang. At first sight, the 2 or 3-month old baby elephant looks very much like a toy except for the fact that it already weighs as much as a sack of rice and you can't carry it around with it. (A baby elephant weighs 80-100 kg or 176-220 pounds at birth.) We already had several pets at home, so the idea of adopting a baby elephant did not seem out of place. Luk Kaang is cute and adorable, and "sanuk", combined with the thought that it is part of the Buddhist tradition of merit-making to show kindness and compassion to animals considered to be 'Sat Yai'.
Whenever I pursue anything, I tell myself I have to take it seriously and do it well. So it was in the case of the adoption of Luk Kaang. I would visit every month and got to know him. They're very intelligent animals and there's a sense that you are able to interact and communicate with them. I still visit him at the centre every month. Through these frequent visits, I learnt more about elephant physiology and psychology, the work undertaken by the conservation centre, the history of elephants as well as about how things are today. I became increasingly aware of the problems affecting elephants in the various regions. In the end, I felt that I had to personally do something to help.
As a result of our experience with elephants, we wanted others to be able to interact with elephants and likewise share in the same experience. So we decided to establish the Treasure Our Elephants Fund and worked in conjunction with the Thai Elephant Conservation Center, to introduce an "Elephant Foster Parents" programme.
- Should elephants be made to work?
The right type of work well-suited to the physiology and natural behaviour of the elephant constitutes exercise for the elephant, but it must be done in the right way.
For example, the short elephant rides around the centre, trekking, pushing and pulling or carrying logs, following simple commands. The types of activities that we see featured in the elephant show at the NEI/Thai Elephant Conservation Center is based on their natural behaviour so it does not cause any harm to the elephant. Like humans, the food to exercise ratio is equally important for elephants. At the NEI, the elephants are closely supervised and the mahouts know their elephants well in terms of temperament. If they are not ready to participate in any of the activities such as elephant painting or playing musical instruments in the orchestra, they are not forced to take part in these activities. Only the ones who visibly enjoy the activity take part. They each do what they are good at.
What you see at the elephant conservation centre in Lampang is not the norm. The elephants at the centre are very well cared for. Physically, they're in excellent condition. These elephants are extremely fortunate. In comparison to other working elephants, they have a relatively good life. So one way of looking at it, is that these elephants work or 'perform' to raise funds in order to help other elephants that are sick or less fortunate and in need of food, medical care or assistance, regardless of whether they are young or old, or unusually aggressive elephants in exile.
- Is being at a location such as the elephant conservation centre in Lampang where the environment closely resembles that of its natural habitat, a better option for elephants?
All living things should live in their natural habitat. Although elephants are found in tropical countries, they are sensitive to heat and in fact prefer cool weather and cool, shaded areas sheltered from the sun, and near water, if possible.
While tourism creates much-needed employment for elephants and the mahout and enables them to survive in tough times, what is your advice with regard to the use of baby elephants in tourism-related activities?
As is the case with human beings, the initial 3-4 years in the life of a baby elephant are its critical years. The baby elephant is totally dependent on its mother's milk for nourishment and survival. Important nutrients in the cow's milk, particularly calcium and phosphorus ensure that the growing elephant develops strong bones. Vital antibodies needed to build up the calf's immunity and resistance to fight off diseases are also transferred from the mother to the baby elephant through the milk. Calves that are weaned too early and separated from the mother earlier than 3 years of age often manifest symptoms of bone disease, and seldom survive.
Elephants being mammals, like human beings, mother elephants nurture their baby for many years of its life. In terms of its life cycle, a Thai elephant up to the age of 4-5 years is considered to be an infant or child, and like a human child, it needs warmth and affection. A baby elephant that remains with its mother during this vital stage develops into a more wholesome being, mentally, psychologically and behaviourally, and in terms of its cognitive and social skills. As is the case in humans, baby elephants that are separated from its mother far too soon (in the case of elephants, it is before 3-years of age), they grow up to be "problem children" and then adults with problems, and are a danger to themselves, as well as those around them, that includes people as well as other elephants.
Although long-trained for domestic purposes, elephants essentially remain wild animals. Unlike the typical indigenous domestic animal breeds such as the water buffalo or cattle, the Asian elephant has never been selectively-bred by man. We have never yet attempted to systematically select and breed elephants to create an ideal species either in terms of physical type or temperament, so the elephant remains genetically and behaviourally, a true wild animal. Without proper development and the guidance of its mother, we end up with a problem elephant on our hands. It happens all too often. This is how the tragic story begins.
Baby elephants should not be separated from their mothers before the age of three.
ELEPHANT DISTRESS HOTLINE
The Treasure Our Elephants foundation maintains a "Hotline" to receive information about elephants who are injured, ill, mistreated, or otherwise in need of assistance. Upon receipt of such information by phone, fax, or e-mail, the foundation does its best to assist.
Contact information:
Treasure Our Elephants Fund -
Foundation for the Conservation of Northern Elephants
IN BANGKOK
Tel: 66-(0)-2252-0141
Fax: 66-(0)-2252-0142
E-mail: pegpeg99@mozart.inet.co.th
Postal address:
2/4 Wireless Road, Patumwan, Bangkok 10330
IN CHIANG MAI
Tel: 66-53-242-291
Fax: 66-53-300-020
Postal address:
29/4 Toonghotel Road, Muang, Chiang Mai 5000
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We take this opportunity to sincerely thank Ms Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, President of Treasure Our Elephants Fund - Foundation for the Conservation of Northern Elephants, Mr Chanatt Lauhawatana, Managing Director of the Forest Industry Organization, the parent organization of the National Elephant Institute of Thailand, and Mr Richard Lair, a leading authority on the Asian elephant who has devoted over twenty years working with the animals and studying conservation problems across Asia, author of "Gone Astray: The Care and Management of the Asian Elephant in Domesticity" and currently advisor to the National Elephant Institute (NEI) in Lampang, Thailand, for the kind advice and guidance, tremendous insight and enthusiastic support extended to News Room on this special feature. All images ? National Elephant Institute.
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