We had arrived inwards Sen Monorom, inwards the Mondulkiri say of Cambodia, amongst broad eyes in addition to run a endangerment activities inwards our sights. We had been researching things to create inwards the expanse in addition to had come upward across a multitude of waterfalls, hikes in addition to awesome motorcycle rides to accept component in. However in that location was i matter that intrigued us the to a greater extent than nosotros got closer to Sen Monorom – elephant tours.
We guide keep ever opted to non ride elephants due to our own personal beliefs (and scientific research) that shows this tin live on quite harmful for the creatures in addition to promotes unsustainable tourism. We empathise that elephants guide keep been used past times trainers, known equally mahouts, for thousands of years for war, shipping in addition to agriculture, but this is non our culture. For us equally foreigners to ride an elephant, it is to a greater extent than almost the ‘wow’ constituent in addition to to teach some photos, ignoring whatever harm to sustainability in addition to harm to the animals. We create non desire to accept component inwards whatever activity that could potentially live on irresponsible, but nosotros had heard almost some dissimilar in addition to unique experiences inwards Sen Monorom.
Sen Monorom And Its Elephants
The expanse is famous for its elephant population. There are an estimated 83 captive elephants inwards Cambodia, in addition to 54 of these are inwards the Mondulkiri province. There are unopen to 260 elephants across the country.
The most famous scheme inwards Sen Monorom is the Elephant Valley Project, component of the Elephant Livelihood Initiative Environment (E.L.I.E.) company. Started past times Jack Highwood inwards 2005, the EVP has a nifty reputation for rescuing abused elephants from about the say in addition to bringing them to their sanctuary. They also claim to aid create goodness the local Bunong communities past times providing healthcare in addition to high work opportunities for the villagers. They don’t allow people to ride their elephants, instead just allowing you lot to catch them from afar equally they become almost their daily business. This sounded just similar the sort of eco-tourism scheme nosotros wanted to depository fiscal establishment check out. We planned to brand the EVP i of our starting fourth dimension destinations when nosotros arrived inwards town.
There are right away a expose of companies inwards Sen Monorom all offering similar services, including existence able to become on an elephant tour amongst a local mahout from the indigenous Bunong minority group. We started our on-the-ground enquiry in i lawsuit nosotros got to town, but chop-chop became jaded amongst what was (or wasn’t) happening betwixt the companies inwards town.
Competition is fierce, in addition to there is a huge smear drive betwixt all the restaurants, cafes in addition to tour companies inwards Sen Monorom. One of the starting fourth dimension things nosotros had heard later parking our motorbikes at a java store was how the Elephant Valley Project is destroying the livelihoods of the local ethnic people, rather than supporting them. Rumours of them ‘saving’ the same elephants since the twenty-four sixty minutes current they opened were rife. We were fifty-fifty told of the expensive mansion the possessor was edifice upward inwards the mountains, funded past times the high cost required to accept component inwards a tour amongst them. Yet despite all of this nosotros were never provided whatever concrete proof, exterior of a few domicile made flyers in addition to petitions.
Hearing all this, nosotros in addition to hence started squall for almost the other tour companies inwards town. We heard the exact same stories. It appeared that in that location was no back upward offered betwixt anyone. Of course of written report when in that location is competition, you lot may aspect some unsavoury comments betwixt opposing companies. But this was a component of what seemed to live on the entire civilization inwards Sen Monorom. No i wanted to operate together. We couldn’t walk into a restaurant, bar, cafe or hotel without someone bad-mouthing an elephant tour company. It was leaving strong doubts inwards our mind.
Deciding nosotros needed to hear the Elephant Valley Project’s side of the story, nosotros stopped past times their office. H5N1 rattling friendly Australian worker was to a greater extent than than happy to say us all almost their services, history in addition to how the funds are dispersed. We enquired almost the negative criticism they were receiving in addition to she took the higher Blue Planet – refusing to throw dorsum insults towards whatever other company. We admired this, in addition to decided to bring together her for a coffee.
The cost they were charging to pass a little amount of fourth dimension amongst the elephants was incredibly high inwards comparing to similar tours inwards Thailand. However you lot could have a little discount if you lot ‘volunteered’ there. The volunteer operate involved farming in addition to cutting downwardly plants – genuinely spending less fourth dimension amongst the elephants than a full-paid tour. She explained how the costs were divided, yet inwards our ain minds it didn’t add together upward – specially for a non-profit organisation. We don’t withdraw heed paying to a greater extent than for a worthwhile enterprise, specially if it is a sustainable project, yet something wasn’t quite right. We left feeling meliorate almost the company, but however non exclusively convinced.
The contestation kept coming for the balance of our fourth dimension inwards Sen Monorom. There was no means nosotros could confirm or deny whatever of the accusations of the lack of back upward to the indigenous Bunong people, or how sustainable whatever of the other organisations were, such equally the Mondulkiri Project.
We spent our terminal ii days checking out waterfalls in addition to riding our motorcycles around, contemplating who to support. In the halt nosotros decided to non guide anyone. As much equally nosotros would guide keep loved to pass some fourth dimension amongst the elephants inwards their natural, yet somehow artificial environment, nosotros couldn’t experience comfortable amongst who nosotros would plough over our coin too. Obviously some proficient operate is existence done past times most of the companies involved inwards elephant tours inwards Sen Monorom, but how much irresponsible activity genuinely takes place? We didn’t desire to fund a fellowship where nosotros couldn’t live on certain of how ethical their intentions are.
Leaving Sen Monorom nosotros can’t accurately confirm whatever of the negative in addition to positive comments thrown about almost the Elephant Valley Project, the Mondulkiri Project, or amongst whatever of the smaller tour companies inwards town. But nosotros felt to a greater extent than comfortable non taking component inwards such a controversial in addition to maybe unsustainable activity.
Update – Our proficient friends Jane in addition to Stephen latterly visited Sen Monorom in addition to wrote almost their ain personal experiences amongst the elephant sanctuaries there. Read their article to teach some novel information.
Have you lot done an elephant tour inwards Sen Monorom, or anywhere else? What are your opinions on it?
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