Due to the recent coronavirus outbreak, travel around the world has ground to a halt, and tourist attractions are hurting. Among these is Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. The park has closed its doors until April 30. Without visitors to offset costs, staff caring for the 3,000 animals, including 87 elephants, are struggling to provide them with the care they need.
That is why we asked for your help to “Keep Elephants Fed During Coronavirus Outbreak” and double your donation with a $25,000 matching grant from the Abraham Foundation. And we’re celebrating Save the Elephant Day with an additional $25,000! That’s right. Because of your incredible response, the foundation has offered an additional $25,000 match for a total of $50,000.
Since we began to raise funds, the Elephant Nature Park has been able to take in 6 additional elephants who were in urgent need of care.
“Recently, a number of elephants were unemployed by businesses no longer viable. The owners were not able to take care of their elephants, and we stood in the gap until they are able to manage without us. Tonight, 2 females and an older blind bull are with us now. We will care for them until the owner is sustainable,” said ENP founder, Lek Chaile in an updated posted on the park’s Facebook page.
In addition, your donations have enabled the park to help 817 elephants from 60 camps across all regions of Thailand. This has helped begin talks of a more ethical model for those camps.
None of this would have been possible without your help. Thanks for helping us save the elephants, even through the toughest of times.