Recently updated on January 22nd, 2020 at 10:22 pm
Each year, August 12th marks World Elephant Day, a time to spread awareness of elephant welfare across Asia and Africa. In fact, for World Elephant Day this year, the TreadRight Foundation – the not-for-profit organization by The Travel Corporation of which Trafalgar is a member – announced its newest Wildlife Initiative partner, Wildlife SOS – India, an organization promoting elephant welfare through action and education.
A staggering 60 per cent of the world’s population of Asian elephants can be found in India, but many are sadly found working in slums and within crowded cities, through manual labour, street processions and entertainment. Using the grant provided by the TreadRight Foundation, Wildlife SOS – India will be able to build an indispensable Enforcement Training Classroom at the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, which lies within Uttar Pradesh. It’s here that enforcement agencies will be trained in anti-poaching efforts and wildlife laws, as well as how to deal with human-elephant conflict, and how to properly manage the elephants.
One success story to have already come from Wildlife SOS – India is the rescue of the elephant Rhea from a circus in Tamil Nadu. After being rescued, fed and watered, Rhea was taken on a journey to the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre to be reunited with her sisters.
Of course, India isn’t the only country where these conservation efforts are underway; Sri Lanka is another nation with a high elephant population, and in which the elephants in need are cared for by wildlife initiatives. While some elephants reside within the country’s national parks and protected areas, many roam from this land, which in some cases is the cause of human-wildlife conflict.
Situated near Udawalawe National Park, Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home – run by the Born Free Foundation – cares for both the country’s orphaned baby elephants and wounded adult elephants. In this rehabilitation centre the elephants are brought back to full health before being released back into the wild. The nearby wilderness spot, Udawalawe National Park, was established to provide native wild animals with protected land to live on, so this is the ideal place for them to be released; elephant herds are in abundance within the park’s perimeters.
Trafalgar guests who join the new Wonders of Sri Lanka trip now have the chance to stop by Udawalawe Elephant Transit Home on their way from Udawalawe to Galle. A visit is especially rewarding at the elephants’ feeding times, and by having this experience in a place that cares for these animals, each visitor can be sure they’re supporting the welfare of Asia’s elephants.
See these wild elephants on the Wonders of Sri Lanka trip with Trafalgar, and travel to India on the new Leisurely Rajasthan with Mumbai trip.
Image credits: Cover photo © iStock. Elephants bathing in Sri Lanka © iStock / Givaga. An elephant in Udawalawe National Park © iStock / pilesasmiles. Udawalawe National Park © iStock / rbulthuis.