Elephant Jungle Project

From November 2010 on, Bring the Elephant Home will manage and finance the Elephant Jungle Project of the Elephant Nature Park. A beautiful piece of 150 acre mountainous land, surrounded by protected forest, and with some streams running through it, that we will turn into a true elephant jungle.

With the support of Bring the Elephant Home, the Elephant Nature Park was able to buy the new land in 2009. The land was mainly used for cabbage plantations, so most of the forest disappeared (see photo top left).

In the last two years, we managed to remove the plantations, analyze the condition of the soil and we have started to restore the forest. We have improved the road, built bathrooms, fixed the existing wooden house and installed water pipes. In the coming years we still have to plant many more trees that will attract birds and other wild animals, this way the natural seed distributors will automatically visit our land from the neighboring forests, and plant more tree species for us.

Our dream is that soon some elephants can live in this jungle in freedom, without much interaction with people. Besides respect for all animals, the project also respects the environment and the local community. We are establishing a way of life that is self sufficient, sustainable and in harmony with the environment. We will cultivate elephant food, and our own food, we create our own energy, save seeds, restore the forest, increase biodiversity and provide a nature conservation education center to inspire people to protect wildlife and nature. Students, volunteers and other interested people can join the project to work, learn and have fun together. Click more for details about the project and a photo report of the progress so far.

Objectives:

1. To create an elephant jungle where elephants can live like wild elephants.
2. To create a new model of living with elephants.
3. To extend elephant habitat and create more biodiversity.
4. To create more knowledge about reforestation in elephant habitat.
5. To educate and inspire local and international young people in sustainable living, reforestation, conservation and animal protection.

Elements of the project:

1. Reforestation
2. Sustainable building and energy
3. Organic gardens and herbal medicine
4. Community development
5. Nature conservation education and participation

Reforestation

To germinate and plant 10,000 seedlings of 20 - 30 tree species a year; research of elephant food plants and tree planting methods, tree maintenance and a reforestation nature trail. Our goal is to replant the natural habitation and grow enough organic and diverse food for the elephants.Sustainable building and energy

Sustainable building and energy

To create a lifestyle which is self sufficient, sustainable and in harmony with the environment. As much as possible we would like to use natural / environmental friendly construction materials, which are locally available, natural and need little energy for our construction work (like Adobe, straw, clay, bamboo, stone and second-hand materials). We will use solar energy, use rain water, filter own drinking water, grow our own organic vegetables and herbs, make our own soap, shampoo, natural pesticide and elephant dung fertilizer.

Organic gardens and herbal medicine

Establish an herbal medicine nature trail, research about herbal medicine for both people and elephants; grow our own herbs, document data to create a traditional herbal medicine dictionary and use herbs in our daily lives.

Community development

To work together with the local people, improve their environment, generate income, educate the youth in sustainable living and conservation.

We will collect seeds of native tree species and of edible plants. We can provide them to local villagers, they grow elephant food and we buy it to create income for them. This way the farmers are also stimulated to grow organic and to have more different species on the land, instead of mono crops. We hope to encourage the idea of saving and collecting seeds to the local people. We would also like to create a seed fund for local people who collect seeds of frame work species for us.

Nature conservation education and participation

Education about seed collection, germination methods and relevant tree species for elephant conservation; create a nature trail with signs to recognize framework tree species and herbal medicine, create our seed collection and germination schedule; model of sustainable living, organize educational programs. Volunteers can join our project and contribute to elephant conservation by joining our activities, such as tree planting, tree maintenance, seed and herbs collecting, nursery work, germinate and plant elephant food plants, organic gardening.

The Elephant Jungle Project is sponsored by:

The Park Plaza Hotel

and the donors of Bring the Elephant Home.

Help to realize this project, donate online for the Elephant Jungle Project!