Elephant Valley Project gave me a chance to learn about elephants without destroying their nature or taking away their rights. It was joyous learning all about them as we walked around in nature. Here’s my experience at Elephant Valley Project below!
Experiencing Elephant Valley Project
It was fully booked, but we managed to squeeze in. My anticipation for this new adventure began boiling within me. We were in Cambodia during the wet season. So, the clay roads were slick and became an unexpected obstacle, which added to our trip to this special place.
The excitement happened quickly for us to start our journey. From there, we got into the car for 10 minutes and then took the turn onto the treacherous mud road on a hill. Our driver was a native to the land. So, he seemed used to the slip-sliding of the road. He grabbed the wheel and cranked it all the way left, then all the way right. It was becoming a carnival ride, swaying left to right. There were six of us crammed into the SUV. But suddenly, we crept into a ditch.
A Show for the Locals!
Locals kept passing us on their mopeds, staring at us and the driver pushed hard down on the pedal, making us rock back and forth. Finally, we were out and back on our way to the Elephant Valley Project area. For 45 minutes to an hour, all of us swayed to and fro. But the driver made it a smooth ride after that.
Before Entering Elephant Valley Project
A feeling of anxiety was washed away once we made it. I steadily walked with the others to a roofed covered spot. Our tour guide, who came with us, explained the land and more about the project.
"What our money goes to is renting the land for the elephants, their medical needs, and food. It also goes to the employees." He stated.
We learned that it was a little bit of a hardship for them to get the elephants away from the abuse. They had to either buy or rent the elephants from the owners.
"It feels immoral. But here, that is how families make money. They cannot just give away something that helps them with surviving." Explained the tour guide
The Difficult Past for the Elephants
My heart ached as he told us a little bit about the backstories of the elephants that now reside in Elephant Valley Project. One had been used as a farming tool. Her back spine poked above the rest of her back, which looked considerably painful. This happened from carrying heavy loads on her back repeatedly. Another elephant, named Sambo, was used for tourism.
FYI:
An elephant has more strength in its neck than in its back.
Their back is actually weak compared to the rest of their body and this elephant hauled people around for rides on his back. Over time, that can cause issues for elephants. When working for tourism, they fed Sambo junk food which meant Coca-Cola, ice cream, and fatty foods. But once he had come to this peaceful land, he began to lose weight and act happier. He had no idea how to be an elephant. 30 years of his life was served by a tourism company. But shortly after being brought to Elephant Valley Project, he made a friend. He was shown the ways of being an elephant by her.
Now, Sambo could make noises with his long trunk, munch on tall grass, and do elephant things. Time had passed, and all the unneeded weight had disappeared. He was as he was supposed to be now! As our tour guide gave us summaries of each animal, I began thinking of how much pain they all endured. If I were them, I would have trouble trusting a human again, too. The talk came to an end, and our group began walking towards the entrance to Elephant Valley Project.
Within Elephant Valley Project
The road turned into a slippery mess as we went down at a slant through the forest. A dampness hung in the air and the trees surrounding us. We could hear monkeys howling in the distance. Finally 30 minutes passed, and we stopped at a wide opening near a clear stream. There, we waited, and soon came two elephants at a steady pace.
They weren’t as big as I was expecting since I had an image of an African elephant in my head. These were almost half the size. But they still held an ancient beauty to them. It was spectacular watching them in their natural habitat. Our guide told us their stories in depth, and it felt as though my heart had dropped. All the elephants at this place had such a rough past.
Treat the Elephants with Care
I wanted to console them, tell them everything is better now. But we weren’t allowed to touch them. They ARE wild animals and they need that freedom to be as they were meant to be. Later that day, we saw the elephants bathing in a river. Each elephant had its own mahout.
A mahout is a man that stays with an elephant almost daily. In Cambodia, the natives saw elephants as sacred. For hundreds of years, they developed a language with the elephants. In their own way, they understood them. So, the bond between an elephant and its mahout was really unique.
Come and Visit Elephant Valley Project
Nowadays, Cambodians realize there is a better way to take care of elephants and not to use them as they have in the past. Their eyes are beginning to open. It gives me hope! Even when it becomes tough, you can still make a difference to some living thing. I loved this trip and I truly think that if you plan on going to an animal sanctuary, research the place first. Make sure they are genuine and that they truly care for the animals. Elephant Valley Project is one of those places that tells you like it is. You get to see the beautiful elephants, but at a distance. I think that’s a great way to help them and humans that tend to forget the difference between wildlife and domesticated animals.
Travel
If you want to travel more in Cambodia, then I suggest checking out Angkor Wat. It’s filled with temples and it’s packed full with people. But since it’s so big, you don’t have the feeling there are a lot of people there. In addition to that, there’s ziplining that you can try out. Another great place to visit is Thailand! There, you can learn how to scuba dive. If that isn’t enough for you, check out my travel page and learn of many more places to explore. Plus, I have information on the things to do prior to your trip!
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