A true work in progress, the Elephant Valley Project has become the central location for our works in Mondulkiri. To cut a long story short, after working in the Phnong villages of Mondulkiri for 18 months trying to treat sick and mistreated elephants with a mix of veterinarian care and mahout-orientated education, the directors of ELIE decided to develop the Elephant Valley Project as a alternative approach to domestic elephant care in Cambodia. We would bring the elephants and people to us rather than go to them. We were not sure this would work but we have made huge successes since the 2008 monsoon and are pursuing this policy heavily.

Since December 2008 we have partnered up with an English-based charity, Globalteer, and started a volunteering program. Participants bring donations to support his project and have had a lot of success with it. In 2009 we hope to finally finish our Domestic Elephant Rest and Rehabilitation and Community Learning Centre (‘Elephant school’) thanks to donations and assistance from the local provincial government and monies donated by some very nice Japanese donors. 

The Elephant Valley project’s main aim is to provide a safe location away from the villages to treat sick and injured elephants while providing a hands-on approach to education and welfare improvement. We are lucky that we can marry the support of volunteers and tourists to support this.

The Elephant Valley is a series of interlaced rented farms that is surrounded by farms. It allows us to simulate the same environs that mahouts look after and care for their elephants, while providing a large area of forest for elephants to escape human activity for the longest period of time possible during a normal working day. Our lessons, training, and environs are very similar to that which local mahouts encounter in their villages, and so are highly relevant.

• Rest and Recuperation centre, Elephant House and Feeding Ground
• An active rice farm
• Mahout house and accommodation for the villagers that live on site
• Guesthouse and feeding ground
• Schooling area and elephant riding jump off point
• Princess’s Farm

These farms are all part of the local traditional way of swithen farming (slash and burn that is later allowed to re-grow). This allows us to develop feeding grounds in and amongst active rice fields. 

The development of ecotourism through the construction and development of a guesthouse is our man aim at supporting these expensive activities. Currently, we have being enjoying some initial success. Self-sustainability is goal that is not only possible, but is possible here in Mondulkiri. 

Currently we charge $50 a day per visitor (half price for kids) and this includes all food, transport and accommodation if necessary. This money is approximately 50% profit, which goes to pay for the 180 days where we don’t have visitors, only elephants. 

Please browse through the photos and contact us or Globalteer if you are interested in coming to stay or visit.