Cambodia Elephant Forest Conservation
| Duration | 1 to 4 weeks |
| Hours | 5 days per week |
| Activities | Riding the elephants into the forest. Walking, feeding and bathing the elephants. Conservation of protected forest. |
| Location | Forest, near small town. |
| Accommodation | Hill tribe style house with western interior. |
| Requirements | Aged 18+ |
| Start dates | Any Saturday arrival |
| Donation | From £510 / US$800 |
The elephant forest conservation project is located in Mondulkiri province, Cambodia. The project is dedicated to helping the domestic elephant population and conserving their habitat. The project primarily works with the tribal Phnong (Bunong) peoples to help them, help their elephants. The end goal is the improvement of the welfare and living conditions of the elephants and to provide a sustainable income for the Mahouts (elephant keepers) and their families.
The project intends to promote the development of a new legal classification of forest - "Elephant Forest" - forest that is primarily for the use of a village’s domestic elephants. These managed forests will be of a suitable area, contain enough foodstuffs, forest cover and sufficient water to cope with the needs of a village's domestic elephant population and give the elephants daily time away from human activity.
The project provides an alternative lifestyle for the domesticated working elephants closer to their natural living conditions in the forest. The elephant keepers are provided with an alternative income and the elephants are provided with veterinary care and no longer work long hours.
The Elephants of Cambodia
There are approximately 59 domestic elephants in Mondulkiri, roughly half of the Cambodian domestic elephant population. They are threatened by a broad array of factors that range from physical abuse and misuse to sale to neighbouring provinces and countries.
Elephants don’t belong in captivity, they belong in the wild. However when an elephant becomes a part of a peoples culture and belief system it causes just as many problems to remove it from that culture. A released elephant will have little fear of people and will start to raid crops endangering its life as people retaliate with guns and traps.
We don’t support the capture of wild elephants and the Phnong don’t support the breeding of elephants. Therefore the current domestic elephant population will probably be the last Mondulkiri has, the aim is to ensure that this last generation is able to live out its life with as much dignity as possible.
The wild population of elephants in Cambodia is hugely threatened by loss of habitat. The project protects an area of forest from destruction to ensure that the Phnong people, elephants and the huge variety of other creatures in the forest have a habitat for the future.
The Location
The project is based near the town of Sen Monoron in Mondulkiri province, eastern Cambodia, near the border of Vietnam. The elephant forest conservation project is located a few kilometres from the town in a protected area of forest. This area of Cambodia is one of the least impacted by tourism and gives volunteers a unique insight into rural Cambodian life and the tribal Phnong people.
The location provides a safe area away from the villages to treat sick and injured elephants while providing a hands on approach to education and welfare improvement. The Elephant Valley is a series of interlaced rented farms that simulates the same environs that mahouts (elephant keepers) look after and care for their elephants while providing a large area of forest to allow elephants to escape human activity for the longest period of time possible.
The location includes:
• Rest and recuperation centre, elephant house and feeding ground.
• An active rice farm.
• Habitation of employees and villagers that live on site.
• Guesthouse and feeding ground.
• Schooling area and elephant riding jump off point.
• Volunteer accommodation.
Volunteer Schedule
Volunteers work a 5 day week. You will work closely with the Mahouts who always accompany the elephants. Each volunteer will be assigned their own elephant for the duration of their stay, unless volunteers are travelling as a couple.
A typical week:
Saturday: Meet and greet in Phnom Penh, overnight in guesthouse.
Sunday: Travel to the project by taxi through various small Cambodian villages.
Monday to Friday:
• Learning about the project and the elephants.
• Learning how to ride and control the elephant.
• Early morning walk to collect the elephants from their overnight location in the forest.
• Riding the elephants into the forest to forage and ensure that nobody encroaches on the protected land to illegally log the trees.
• Bathing and cleaning the elephants.
• Collecting rare orchids from recently logged areas before the land is burnt and the orchids are lost.
• Working with the local Phnong staff to improve the living conditions of the elephants.
For those staying at the project, Saturday and Sunday are free time which can be used to further explore the forest and it’s amazing variety of creatures. Visits to the town can be made to explore the local markets in the town of Sen Monoron. Many waterfalls are close by some being amongst the largest in Cambodia.
For those leaving the project, Saturday is for transfer back to Phnom Penh.
Please be aware that this is a dynamic project and this is just an example of a typical week, volunteer duties may change slightly during their placement.
The Accommodation
The first night’s accommodation is in Phnom Penh on Saturday night where you will be able to meet other volunteers. The rooms are clean, comfortable with private bathroom. Air-con upgrade can be arranged locally.
At the project volunteers stay in lodges constructed in the traditional Phnong style with high quality western interiors, including toilet and hot shower. The lodges are located on the slopes of the elephant valley affording stunning views over the surrounding forest where many varieties of birds can be seen from eagles to hornbills.
The main project buildings are made from mostly recycled and salvaged materials.
Three meals per day are provided for this project. The chef provides high quality international meals. Vegans can be accommodated and the variety and quality of food will suit all tastes. Volunteers dine in the main complex overlooking the elephant valley. Sunset can be spent unwinding at the bar in front of an open fire enjoying the amazing sounds of the nocturnal forest creatures and the gibbons calling as they prepare to sleep.
Why We Need Volunteers
The elephants of Cambodia need help, there is little education on the care of domesticated elephants and few possibilities of veterinary assistance when required. The project provides vital jobs for the local population and care for their elephants. Modulkiri is being rapidly deforested and the project protects an area of "elephant forest" for the local population and the creatures that inhabit the area. The basic fact is - the more funding that can be raised, the more forest can be protected for the future.
Required Donation
The required donation to the project is stated in UK £pounds and US $dollars.
Why is a donation required to volunteer?
| 1 week will be | £510 | $800 |
| 2 weeks will be | £890 | $1400 |
| 3 weeks will be | £1270 | $2000 |
| 4 weeks will be | £1650 | $2600 |
| Extra weeks | £380 | $600 |
The donation includes:
First night accommodation in Phnom Penh.
Sunday Transfer to the remote province of Mondulkiri.
All main meals.
Training in the riding and controlling of your elephant.
Full in country support from the project staff.
Comprehensive information brochure.
Assistance and advise for travelling to Cambodia.
Saturday transfer back to Phnom Penh.
The donation does not include flights, visas or insurance although we can provide information as required.
More Information
Click on the links below for further reading…
Cambodia and project Fact File
Asian Elephant Information
Gallery
Application Process & Requirements
The minimum age for volunteers is 18 years old. No previous experience or qualifications are necessary but we do require volunteers to be respectful and open minded to the cultural differences they will encounter in Cambodia. Volunteers must be reasonably fit as the work can be demanding in the tropical heat. You must be able to speak English. Volunteers must have a similar ideology to the mission of the project, wildlife trainers and those who exploit wildlife for the benefit of people are not suitable for this project.
1. Click on the link below to fill out an application form.
2. Your application will be reviewed and if accepted you will be notified via E-mail.
3. Pay your deposit to secure your place.
4. Research your destination, book your flight, inoculations and ask us any questions you may have.
5. Full amount is to be paid 60 days before the start of your project.
6. A comprehensive information folder will be sent to you with all information including a packing list, Cambodia cultural differences, Buddhist Monk etiquette, useful language phrases, project rules, useful phone contacts and full project information.