Save and Rescue an Asian Elephant Today

Dear Supporters,

On behalf of our partners, volunteers, staff and beautiful elephants we want to say a massive Thank You for your support in 2016! As 2016 draws to a close, we’d like to take this opportunity to reflect on our achievements and successes with you.

It’s been a very exciting year here at Chiang Mai as we have managed to bring back 3 elephants to the forest who were previously working in unethical tourist camps. Gureepo, our 8-year-old female, joined us in February and previously worked in a camp performing tricks for tourists. Dee Dee, our beautiful bull elephant, joined the GVI family in March and, like Gureepo, used to performed tricks for tourists. Gureepo and Dee Dee spend a lot of time together in the forest and having never previously lived in the forest before, are continuing to learn from the older elephants and their dedicated mahouts which food is the most delicious!

In October we also welcomed another male elephant to the GVI herd. Charlie is a 9-year-old male who previously spent his days painting in a camp near Chiang Mai, but can now spend his days in the forest where he should be! Charlie is grandson to Thong Dee, who has been with the GVI herd since its start in 2010.

Unfortunately, earlier in the year Dee Dee became unwell but thanks to the meticulous care of his mahout we were able to get him to the elephant hospital quickly to ensure he wasn’t seriously ill. Veterinary care for elephants is free for elephants in Thailand, however, it is very expensive to transport elephants to the hospital and it’s difficult for the owners and mahouts to find this money at such short notice. Thankfully, due to the GVI Trust donors, we are able to pay for this transport immediately and ensure that the GVI elephants can be taken to the hospital as soon as possible.

In November, staff and volunteers also took part in a GVI Trust Challenge! We spent 2 nights in the forest practising basic survival skills. Volunteers had a series of challenges, for example practising basic survival skills and making their own shelters and although it was very cold, everybody did a great job to raise money for our elephants!

It’s fantastic to see how your donations are able to help support more elephants to live in the forest where they belong and also how much of an impact this has on the elephants and their mahouts!

Thank you for your donations and for supporting these beautiful elephants and their mahouts in 201!

We wish you a happy and prosperous 2017.

With Gratitude,

GVI Thailand.