ELIE has three projects: Domestic Elephant Research Project (DERP); Domestic Elephant Veterinarian Project (DEVP); Domestic Elephant Eco-Tourism Project (DEETP).

2006 saw the start of ELIE's DERP, the project's aim was to locate the domestic elephants in Mondulkiri and document the owners, mahouts and biometric data. The task was taken up by Thear Chan Torn, a resident of Mondulkiri for three years, and saw him searching the far reaches of the province in order to survey a total of 58 domestic elephants. Mondulkiri only has one primary road which is useable all year round, the majority of travel is on small dirt footpaths and tracks, so this presented no mean feat.

Volunteers from England, America, and Finland have joined Thear Chan Torn on this project.

Goals for 2007 include domestic elephant origin mapping, domestic elephant transportation use mapping, and coordination with local NGO's about related Phnong cultural beliefs.

2006 saw the start of ELIE's DEVP in the village of Putang, Mondulkiri. With no funding for a qualified veterinarian the staff members of ELIE worked in conjunction with the owners and mahouts of the 6 resident elephants, and a further 4 transient domestic elephants to provide low-tech, basic medical care such as cleaning wounds and applying non-prescription Metaline and Povidine.

With no other organisation or Government department working in the field of domestic elephant welfare (in Mondulkiri) and currently 18 elephants across the province in need of professional veterinarian care, our goal for 2007 was to instigate the provision of a full time veterinarian working for ELIE. Currently in 2008 we have a trainee veterinarian, a Mr Lin Bovannak focusing his remaining studies and thesis on DE care. We hope to be able to employ and support him after the 2008 academic year has finished. 

2007 also saw the start of ELIE's DEETP “Elephant Valley”, which in 2008 hopefully will benefit from the completed development of our rest and recurperation centre. A place where mahouts and owners can gain alternative employment while their elephants receive food and medical treatment, and equally importantly a break from their typically heavy workload. Construction started in Jan 2007 and is still taking place, rising prices and costs coupled with poor weather have made for slow progress in its remote location, however we have much hope for its success.  

The Elephant Valley Project is community based we actively encourage the involvement of local farmers and villagers. We have already seen that the alternative income generated benefits the tribal community as well us the elephants on site. Please Click on the Elephant Valley Project Tab to read more.