elevet - a project by SLWCS

For millennia, the people of Sri Lanka have maintained a sacred fellowship with Asian elephants. They are part of their culture, economy, ecosystem and traditions. 

 Yet, there is a paradoxical reality behind this longstanding relationship: Captive elephants are forced into a lifetime of chained servitude characterised by chronic pain, isolation, and suffering. More than 250 Asian elephants live in captivity in Sri Lanka. Many receive no professional veterinary care. 

Lack of adequate veterinary care often leads to chronic disorders: irreversible joint damage, painful foot abnormalities, parasitic disease, intestinal illness, infections and abscesses, and stereotypic behaviours (e.g. swaying, hyper aggression) —common symptoms of neglect of the complex biological, emotional and physical needs of elephants.

Proceeds raised through TRUNK2 will allow the Sri Lanka Wildlife Conservation Society (SLWCS) and its key partners to work hand-in-hand with Sri Lanka’s practicing veterinarians and elephant owners to bring about sustainable improvements in the health, care, and management of captive elephants, and lay essential groundwork for the development of “New Life Elephant Sanctuary”, Sri Lanka’s first sanctuary for captive elephants.

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