W
ith Cambodia’s elephant
population rapidly dwindling
due in large part to overwork
and mistreatment through
elephant rides, Jack Highwood has made it his
mission to keep these giants alive through the
Elephant Valley Project (EVP), which offers
tired elephants some much-needed respite.
Fah
Thai
finds out more.
Why did you start EVP?
While previously working with elephants in
South-East Asia, I had travelled to many places
that were home to elephants and saw many
different methods and ideas [of caring for
them] but no one place that put these together.
In an effort to reinvent the wheel, I started EVP
in Mondulkiri because the government was
keen on the idea and there was a clear need for
an elephant sanctuary.
Why is it so important to offer elephants respite
and sanctuary?
Elephants are essentially wild animals but
they’re considered to be domesticated. They’re
not designed to do the work that’s required
of them and often suffer as a result. Once
an elephant gets sick or injured, it takes a
considerable amount of time to heal and it
shouldn’t continue to work. Sometimes they’re
not able to return to work and an alternative is
needed. EVP provides for both circumstances
with short-term and long-term rest options.
What do you like most about working with
elephants?
Elephants are incredibly rare and there are only
a handful left in the country. It’s a privilege to
work towards ensuring that they enjoy a better
future. I just hope the work is making enough
of a difference.
➦
STOPOVER
eco travel
FAHTHAI
35
One
giant
step
C O N S E R V A T I O N
Cambodia addresses
the ongoing decline
in the size of its
elephant population
TEXT: MARISSA CARRUTHERS; IMAGES: ZEESHAN HAIDER
