LIFE: Living in the Forest with Elephants
LIFE: Living In the Forest with Elephants represents all LIFE that surrounds the elephants.
We strive to protect, the people, the forest and all the wildlife dependent on this habitat.
The LIFE community is situated near the border between Thailand and Myanmar in an area which has suffered immense poverty over the years. The village is small with only around twenty households and it shares a stunning forest with 6 other villages.
The forest is quite simply remarkable; covering 92,000 acres, 88% of which is classed as Grade One with 12% partly degraded. The captive elephants have a life that we could only dream possible, they roam freely through the forests being checked on by their mahouts once a week or daily if they feel the need.
Without a source of income in Thailand’s rapidly growing economy, people from this village were forced to sell their beloved elephants to the tourism industry.
The future is bright for the LIFE project community and its elephants
Because of the our track record of fair and gentle collaboration with other Karen communities, helping them keep their elephants in the forest, the LIFE community asked for help to save their remaining elephants. MEF are currently supporting 4 elephants at LIFE project with the aim of supporting more in the future as the project grows.
The community is extremely remote and in the first year we have been investing in training sessions, infrastructure improvements, and educational initiatives to prepare the community to meet the rigorous Tourism Authority of Thailand Homestay Standard. We are pleased to announce that in December 2018 the community was awarded homestay certification! This is a huge achievement for the community and our team. The community is beyond thrilled at the prospect of being able to support their elephants and forest through ecotourism that honours their rich traditions and culture.
A key focus of LIFE community is preserving their magnificent forest.
How can you help?
LIFE project needs support to grow
Vehicles – the greatest need at this time, as few in the village has a working car that can bring guests to and from the project as well as help to transport staff. Local people also have little access to reliable transportation to get to school and access medical care which can lead to life or death situation
Lodges and furnishings – people in this community are keen to host guests for meals and activities but this requires separate free-standing guest accommodations in the form of small lodges dispersed around the village.
Improving infrastructure at the kindergarten – Due to poverty in the region the kindergarten has become very run down in recent years and the building is in desperate need of some love and attention. Infrastructure improvements would cost a total of approximately £10,000.
Research equipment – The elephants at LIFE project are sometimes so far away or residing with wild elephants that researchers can’t access them. A series of camera traps and GPS equipment are needed to capture the lives of the elephants as well as document the wildlife in the area. Camera traps cost between £150-300 and we require upwards of 50 to survey the vast LIFE forests.
“As a charity, we depend on the generosity of our supporters to meet the growing needs our communities face. Every little bit helps us to reach our goals and support more mahouts and elephants.”
Sponsor an elephant
When you become a sponsor, you will receive a welcome letter signed by Mahouts Elephant Foundation Co-Founder Sarah Blaine, a photograph of your chosen elephant taken by a professional wildlife photographer and a sponsor certificate. You will also receive exclusive quarterly sponsor updates on your chosen elephant and hold on to the knowledge that you have made a huge difference to the life of your sponsored elephant.
By sponsoring one or more of our elephants, you will be helping cover to their daily needs. All funds go towards keeping the elephants in the forest and we cannot do this without your help. Each elephant requires a mahout and they need a salary each month – their role is demanding and requires extended periods out in the forest. We pay decent wages to ensure they are able to take care of their families.
Our experiences
LIFE: Mountain
Adventure
LIFE: Volunteering
Meet the elephants at this project
Age & Gender: Born in 1977 – Female
Mokijue (Funny Leg)
Mokijue is the matriarch of the LIFE herd. Her name in the Karen language means Funny Leg, this is because her left leg has a slight deformity. This does not impede on her life or her ability to move around her forest home.
Mokijue has spent her whole life living in a forest that stretches to over 90,000 acres and joins 3 national parks. Her owners have been determined to not allow her to leave to work in tourism.
She is a survivor thanks to her gentle and knowledgeable owners, she spends her life foraging happily and enjoying a completely natural life, she is often seen in the company of wild bulls who join the herd from time to time.
Age & Gender: Born in July 2017 – Female
Mokimae (Funny Tail)
Mokimae is the daughter of Mokijue and is protected and safe thanks to the project and work of the foundation. Her name in the Karen language means Funny Tail, due to a unique kink in her tail.
She is the youngest elephant supported by the foundation and happily spends her days alongside her family, learning all the skills she needs to survive in the forest.
She is a gentle young elephant with a youthful adventurous spirit – the villagers believe that her father is a wild bull that roams the region from time to time.
Age & Gender: Born in 1987 - Male
Seedor Pah Ya Bu
Ya Bu is in his early thirties and waS DONATED TO mef in Oct 2019 by a group of dedicated monks who wanted to offer him a new life of peace and dignity in the forest.
He is settling well into life in his new forest home, he is an impressive bull and shocks everyone with his huge size, he is however very gentle and is especially fond of little Mokimae
Now he has been release from working life he is free to forage all day and eating is his greatest pleasure ! We are excited to watch this beautiful bull enjoy many years ahead in his forest home.
Age & Gender: Born in January 2020 – Female
Mur Lah (Hope)
Mur Lah is the daughter of mokijue and sister of mokimae - she is the newest member of the “life” family.
Her name in the Karen language means HOPE, she is an incredibly strong young elephant - at only 3 days of age she was already following her mum Mokijue through the mountainous forest terrain.
She is the youngest elephant supported by the foundation and happily spends her days alongside her family, learning about her forest surroundings and picking up all the skills she needs to survive in the forest.
Mur Lah’s father is a wild bull that roams the forest throughout different times of the year.