Jan 18 - Feb 4, 2018  
Burma

(Trip is pending, yet confirmed)

Burma is magical. We have scheduled our time to be there before the hot season begins. Our host is Damon Zumbroegel - of whom our mutual friend Spencer describes as a deep wisdom teacher of the Buddha Dharma. Damon runs Vihara of the Vihara Collective. The Collective is committed to cultural sustainability in the context of the modern world. This holistic approach ensures that Vihara Collective can engage a place on all levels, refining and preserving the traditional values of a culture while turning these traits into valuable resources on the modern global stage. Damon often runs retreats at the Collective, which is also operates at times as an ashram. 

Damon is expecting to join and co-lead our excursions deep into Burma. Of Burma, Damon says it remains a tough nut to crack, but he knows the processes and the people needed to achieve our goals. He'll pursue our permits and arrange official accommodations (the only allowable way). There are 2500 newly unemployed logging elephants in Burma - unemployed because of new anti-logging laws. What to do with them all? Human/elephant conflict is also growing. 

Burma is “the land of the elephants’ and while tourism has opened up, there is little to no elephant tourism options. There is one established facility that we will be visiting. This facility is a model for future elephant tourism and is located in Green Hill Valley. At this facility visitors can feed the elephants, photograph them, bath them in a stream and walk with them back to the feeding area. The drive to the facility is through magnificent lush forests and the setting is the best of Burma. Bird watching is another highlight there and the team of caretakers are ready to take us on short jungle hikes.

It’s expected that with Burma’s recent opening to the West, that tourist related businesses, especially elephant tourism will begin - there are only one or two currently operating in the entire country. SavingGanesh is intent upon studying the problems being confronted by the newly unemployed logging elephants. Helping the anticipated new elephant tourism businesses adopt ethical practices is our goal, although “re-wilding” many elephants would be optimal.  

We are collaborating with local conservationists, an investor and the Vihara Collective to re-deploy the timber elephants as forest patrols. Tourists would walk alongside the elephants during patrols. The mahouts would be bareback riding, with radios, perhaps a ranger or security official would join. Tourist fees would pay their salaries and elephant care expenses. 

The Vihara Collective is located in Bagan, the ‘City of Four Million Pagodas.’ Architectural highlights include the stucco carvings of Gubyauknge, Htilominlo Pahto and Ananda Pahto the  best preserved temples in the archaeological zone. Nearby Phwar Saw Village, allows us to witness rural Burmese life. Along the way we can visit the market at Nyaung Oo to witness the vibrant market atmosphere in Bagan.  A trip to Kyauk Gu U Min means “Rock Cave Tunnel,” off the beaten track. This is the entrance to an ancient tunnel that goes all the way to the Pindaya caves in Shan State. Inside the dimly lit temple are elaborate carvings about the life of Buddha, and after a haunting journey through several hallways, you come to the beginning of the ancient tunnel.

The temple suffered significant damage in a recent earthquake, but the decay only makes the place more appealing. The not-quite abandoned monastery next door is especially pleasant with crumbling statues and a wealth of jungle vegetation.Mar 6 - March 12 

Thailand

There are an estimated 2,000 wild elephants in Thailand and approximately 2,500 captive ones. While Burma only recently banned logging in most of their country, in 1989 the Thailand banned logging in protected natural forests. Like in Burma, an unfortunate side effect was that it threw logging elephants out of work. This coincided with a rapid rise in tourism, which was able to employ many elephants. It’s estimated that half of Thai elephants work in tourism. Is this an appropriate model for Burma to follow? If so, what ethical practices of elephant husbandry should Burma follow? During this tour we will have a glimpse into Thailand’s matured tourist elephant business.

The Thai Elephant Conservation Center (TECC), was founded in 1993 and cares for more than 50 Asian elephants in a beautiful forest located near Chiang Mai. This is a government originated and owned facility and features activities like elephant painting and riding. The elephants are also released into a forest area each evening. We will observe the activities for which we may be ethically conflicted.

The Elephant Nature Park, just north of Chiang Mai, is an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center which offers volunteers and opportunity to help maintain the herds. Well known and highly regarded elephant conservationist Lek Chailert leads the efforts. She has created a thriving herd, as well as providing a natural environment for elephants, dogs, cats, buffaloes and many other animals. Is this the most ethically appropriate way to rescue and support formerly abused elephants - a strong example of practices to be expanded upon in Burma and Sri Lanka? We are planning collaborations with Lek on projects in Sri Lanka as well.