Help the elephants of Cambodia & EVP post pandemic

Dear Friends of EVP,

The start of 2025 has brought a renewed sense of hope and momentum to the Elephant Valley Project. Thanks to your continued generosity, we are seeing positive change across the sanctuary — from growing visitor numbers to healing elephants and thriving community partnerships.

We’re incredibly grateful for your support. It’s because of you that we’re able to keep our sanctuary alive and strong — caring for the elephants, protecting the forest, and supporting the Bunong community who share their lives with both.

Elephant Conservation Program

Captive Elephant Care & Rehabilitation @ the Elephant Valley Project

Your donations directly support the daily care, enrichment, and healing of our resident elephants.

• Expert Foot Care Returns - In March, elephant foot-care specialist Steve Koyle from Elephant Care Unchained returned to EVP! Picking up where he left off, Steve reintroduced positive reinforcement training and provided targeted foot treatments, while also training our local team to continue this critical work.
• Pearl has made fantastic progress with her long-standing foot and leg injuries. Her daily treatments continue, and she’s cooperating wonderfully.
• Ruby is adapting well despite her eyesight challenges. With daily eye treatments and attentive mahouts, she’s navigating the forest confidently. We’re keeping a close eye on her dental health.
• Hen is healing well from his facial abscess. He’s responding positively to treatment (and especially enjoys his hot water compresses!).
• Ning Wan, our elderly matriarch, is still full of character and speed! Her bond with Gee Chreng remains strong. Due to dental issues, her food is carefully prepared, peeled and chopped for easy digestion.
• Gee Chreng will remain with us for at least five more years, thanks to a renewed contract with her family. 
• Doe and Darling are as curious and playful as ever. We moved them to a new valley for safety due to the presence of a wild bull. Their friendship remains strong, and bamboo is still their snack of choice.

Mobile Vet Team Project

While limited funding has kept our vet team close to EVP, they remain on-call for emergency care across the province. Your support ensures we’re always ready when help is needed.

Natural Resource Protection

With your help, our tree nursery continues to grow! We're currently nurturing native species like Beng, T’nong, and Wild Almond — seedlings that will soon help reforest critical areas of Mondulkiri.

Ecotourism Program - Elephant Valley Project 

Thanks to rising visitor numbers this high season, EVP is gradually regaining its strength after the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s been heartening to welcome more guests, volunteers, and school groups back to the valley. Their contributions — from hands-on help in the nursery to maintenance around basecamp — play a vital role in keeping things running and supporting our mission of ethical elephant care and forest conservation.

We also proudly hosted four school and educational groups, including one weeklong stay. These immersive visits are not only educational but also help spark a lifelong passion for conservation and respect for Bunong culture among the next generation.

That said, while ecotourism is beginning to rebound, it still covers only part of our monthly budget. The reality is that our operating costs remain high — from medical care for our elephants to forest protection and community programs. Donor support continues to be absolutely essential to fill the financial gap and ensure we can maintain a high standard of care and conservation year-round.

We are deeply grateful for your generosity, which truly keeps EVP going when tourism alone can't.

Community Support Program

Your donations reach far beyond our elephant herd.

• Rice for Forest Protection - Each month, we provide rice as compensation to 78 Bunong families for allowing the elephants to roam their ancestral forests. This staple support helps families put food on the table while protecting critical habitat.
• Healthcare Access - When emergencies strike, your support allows us to transport community members to hospitals in Sen Monorom. Whether it's a difficult illness or a woman going into labor, your contributions have helped save lives.

On Hold Programs (Awaiting Funding)

• Elephant Education Days
• School Support Project
• Community Development Project

These programs make a huge difference and we hope to restart them soon — with your help.

Thank You

Every healing elephant, every planted tree, every family supported — it’s all because of you. We are endlessly grateful for your belief in our mission. Together, we’re building a more compassionate, sustainable future for elephants, forests, and communities.

From all of us at EVP — thank you for being part of this journey.

With love from the valley,

The EVP Team

Links:

• Visit the Valley