Perreault Magazine - 112 -
BE PART OF THE SOLUTION
ma•hout
/məˈhout/ noun mahout; plural noun: mahouts
1. (in South and Southeast Asia) a person who works with, rides, and tends an elephant
elephants
Las Vegas doesn’t need you. Disney World doesn’t need you. After you’ve gotten your fill of attraction-based vacation, consider going someplace that needs you, and change your world perspective while you are at it.
Working with elephants is deeply integrated into many parts of Thailand. Yet no laws in Thailand offer protection to captive elephants, as they are classified as mere livestock. We feel it is important to raise awareness of elephant welfare and help provide them a quality life. Many elephant owners in Thailand struggle to make a living and hence shackle their elephants in the sun, and, sadly, resort to taking them to cities to beg.
Tremendous deforestation has decreased the logging industry which used to be a major job source in the area, putting even more pressure on locals to engage in this type of elephant-begging.
Globe Aware offers an innovative program in northeast Thailand (the heartbeat of elephant husbandry in the country) that helps solve the challenges faced by over 300 Asian elephants and their handlers, which are known as “mahouts.”
By participating in this project, volunteers provide sustainable revenue for nearly 200 mahouts while also providing a better standard of living for the elephants themselves.
by Kimberly Haley-Coleman