charity focus
giving back wild. In Thailand, for example, the number of elephants has plummeted from 100,000 in 1900 to just 3,000, of which only an estimated 1,000 live in the wild. Habitat destruction and poaching are major threats to the wild population, but EARS is also concerned about working elephants being abused by circuses,
EARS promotes ‘elephant-friendly’ projects and sanctuaries
Jumbo kingdom In the first of a new column, Agatha Yuen looks at EARS, a charity that aids Asian elephants. Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival foundation (EARS) was launched in Hong Kong in November 2010 to promote awareness of the plight of the Asian elephant. It is sponsored by the Clearwater Bay Equestrian Centre. Found across South and Southeast Asia, the Asian elephant is facing extinction in the
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trekking companies and urban tourist activities. Founder Louise Rogerson, who lived in Hong Kong for 15 years before moving to Cambodia in 2012, is passionate about animal welfare and has worked with various charities, including the Animals Asia Foundation. She set up EARS after witnessing a Thai elephant starve to death because of a broken leg. “When you see an elephant beaten, starved or shackled in chains, you feel absolutely compelled to help – everything else around you becomes insignificant,” Rogerson says. EARS offers financial support for elephant rescues and co-ordinates emergency relief. It
also works with specially selected projects in need of financial assistance by funding food, medical care and construction projects – such as an elephant hospital, enclosures, ponds and bathing pools – or helping to purchase land. EARS promotes responsible tourism. Its website gives details of “elephant friendly” projects and sanctuaries in Asia where the animals are treated with kindness and respect. It takes particular interest in three elephants: Kiri, Seila and Sombo, sponsoring their retirements in Cambodia. For 20 years, Sombo gave tourist rides at Wat Phnom temple in Phnom Penh, which left her with painful abscesses on her front feet. EARS sponsored her veterinary care and retirement as well as construction of a bathing pool and home.
Elephant-sized bills Sombo’s monthly expenses include: • Betadine for twice-daily foot baths US$360 • Bathing pool maintenance US$200 • Fruit treats US$100 To donate, please visit www.earsasia.org.