By Cynthia Knuppe | Ecotourism Projectmanager
Update: Save the Soul Sisters – Doe & Darling
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
We are deeply grateful for your support of the Save the Soul Sisters: A Forever Home for Doe & Darling campaign. Thanks to your generosity, we have made significant progress toward securing a safe and permanent future for these two much-loved elephants. We could not do this without you.
Campaign Goal and Progress
Doe (Gee Bloh) and Darling (Bong Kong) are two elderly female elephants in their 50s and 60s. Known affectionately as the “Soul Sisters,” they share a lifelong bond and have already begun their healing journey with us at the Elephant Valley Project. Both endured decades of hard labor in the forests of Cambodia and years in close-contact tourism before arriving at our sanctuary, where they are finally able to just be elephants again.
However, without permanent funding secured, there is still a risk that they could be taken away. This means they can be sold back into tourism and relocated to a city environment far removed from the forest. To prevent this, we launched the Save the Soul Sisters campaign with a goal of $60,000 to finalize their rescue and guarantee their lifelong care. This breaks down to $35,000 for Doe, needed by November/December 2025, and $25,000 for Darling, needed by April 2026.
With support from Lady Freethinker, we began with $10,000 already secured.
Progress to Date
At the start of the campaign, we were moved by generous contributions from former volunteers, which gave us an early boost. In July, during GlobalGiving’s Bonus Day, our supporters raised over $5,000 in just 24 hours, including matching funds, bringing the campaign total to nearly $25,000. August brought in steady smaller donations, reminding us that every gift truly brings us closer.
In September, during GlobalGiving’s Passport to Purpose campaign, you helped us raise $4,820 in donations, which was boosted by $2,766 in bonus funds. This means in just one week, together we raised $7,686 toward the Soul Sisters’ care.
Altogether, we have now reached $32,000. That's nearly halfway to our $60,000 target. The next milestone is to raise $13,000 by November/December 2025 to secure Doe’s future, after which we will continue toward Darling’s target of $25,000 in early 2026. With your continued support, we are confident that we will reach this goal and ensure a forever home for both elephants.
Thank You Again
We cannot say thank you enough. Every donated dollar is making a direct and lasting impact on Doe and Darling’s lives. Your generosity allows them to remain in a safe, protected forest where they are free to roam and simply be elephants. It also provides the daily essentials they depend on — veterinary care, nourishing food, and the dedicated work of their mahouts who watch over them with care and respect.
Your support means far more than comfort and security. It shields them from the risk of being sold back into exploitative industries, ensuring they will never again face the hardships of tourism or city life. Most importantly, it keeps the Soul Sisters together, allowing their lifelong bond and companionship to continue in peace after so many years of struggle.
From the bottom of our hearts and on behalf of Doe and Darling thank you for being part of their journey toward a forever home.
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