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Elephant Trekking and Tourism Sustainability in Khao Lak, Thailand Kelley Berg Grace Lee Hanna Linstadt Shannon Skelton

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Page 1: Elephant Presentation

Elephant Trekking and Tourism Sustainability in Khao Lak,

Thailand

Kelley BergGrace LeeHanna LinstadtShannon Skelton

Page 2: Elephant Presentation

Asia Safari Khao Lak, Thailand Est. 2001 Elephant Trekking Zoo Orchid Garden Restaurant

Page 3: Elephant Presentation

Origins Elephants from Surin, in family since 1955

elephant roundup Trekking is a community tradition, brought to

Khao Lak and taught to some village locals

Page 4: Elephant Presentation

Elephant situation

Deforestation– 60% to 20% in 50 years

Disappearing populations– In 100 years the number of wild elephants in Thailand

dropped from 100,000 to 2,000– 3,000 captive elephants in Thailand today

Technology takes logging jobs away from captive elephants

Government project to have 99 out of 300 of Bangkok street elephants and handlers protect national parks from poachers and illegal loggers

Page 5: Elephant Presentation
Page 6: Elephant Presentation

Elephants 12 Indian elephants, all female Average weight is 3 tons 3 month training period once 7 years old Restrictions:

– Pregnancy (after 1 year 2 mo.)– Too young

Page 7: Elephant Presentation

Well Being

Training– “broken in” since birth,

but questionable methods for trekking preparation

Chain on leg– Switch legs daily

Do not walk elephants through water for toenails

Hook + spikey metal ring

Ear infection Vet every 2 months No deaths 4 45 min. treks (uphill)

per day in high season

Page 8: Elephant Presentation

^ Day: chained under a large awning when not trekking

> Night: chained in an uncovered hilly area

Page 9: Elephant Presentation

Resource Use

Water– 150 L/day/elephant– From the river adjacent to

the complex Food

– 300 kilos/day/elephant– Pineapple, banana (take

elephants up mountain to collect bananas), bamboo, coconut leaves, grass

– Bought out pineapple farm 5 km away

Page 10: Elephant Presentation

Waste

Compost– Poop (from cleaning

enclosure every day) and leftover pineapple stems and grass

– Fertilize fruit trees and rubber trees

– Sell fertilizer as supplementary income

Poop– Runs into nearby stream– Primarily grass due to lack of

thorough digestion– Ends up in ocean as

nutrients for sea life (?)– Water quality testing

Page 11: Elephant Presentation

Water Quality TestWaterfall

– pH: 5.0 -- acidic– PO4

3-: 0.024 mg/LCreek

– pH: 4.5 -- acidic– PO4

3-: 0.018 mg/LRunoff

– pH: 6.0– PO4

3-: 0.25 mg/L -- too high, promotes algae growth

Ocean– pH: 6.5 -- acidic for

ocean– PO4

3-: 0.00 mg/L

Page 12: Elephant Presentation

Course Mapping

Rubber trees and processing facility

Fruit trees

Page 13: Elephant Presentation

Trail Natural trail, widened by

humans– No trees were cut down

Biodiversity– Elephants scare away small

animals– “No squirrel no more”

Page 14: Elephant Presentation

Rubber Trees

Artificially planted Supplementary income

to buy pineapple Only small area of

property Specific staff positions

for rubber tree care 20 year life span

– Need to cut everything down and plow to replant

– Not sustainable

Page 15: Elephant Presentation

Asia Safari: Ecotourism? Surveyed community

for business approval out of respect and “code”

Owner’s main goals were to conserve nature and support locals– Pairwise ranking

Environmentally friendly = attractive to tourists

Included in community

How socio-ecologically sustainable is elephant trekking?

What are the indicators of this sustainability?

Page 16: Elephant Presentation

Social Research 6 tourists of different

backgrounds– Pair-wise ranking– Nature (4); Culture (1);

Education (1)– Shows company needs

to sustain natural environment to keep customers

Phuket vs Khao Lak

Limitations:– Confusing method!– Low season– Limited categories

“What is your motivation for coming on an elephant trek?”

Adventure, Cost, Nature, Culture, Support Locals, Education

Page 17: Elephant Presentation

Interviewed owner of Asia Safari with pair-wise ranking and anthropocentric/biocen-tric circles

Most important for elephant trekking company?– Conserve Nature (3),

Support Locals (3), Elephant Well-Being (2), Make Profit (2)

Integrates nature and community into his business– Interviewed

community members and their business is not affected by Asia Safari

Page 18: Elephant Presentation

Indicators of Sustainability

CompostOrganic gardenIntergenerational skillCommunity involvementElephants’ and Nature’s

well being (debatable)Precautionary PrinciplesMore natural = more customers =

sustainability both economically and environmentally

Page 19: Elephant Presentation
Page 20: Elephant Presentation

Part Deux: CBT/Homestay

Ban Nam Sai– May, Lue, Sai-Rung,

Fiew, Babua Kenan Institute Asia

from University of North Carolina CBT presentation

Investigated what goes into starting a CBT program and what the benefits are

Birthday Party English Lesson

Page 21: Elephant Presentation

CBT Benefits People

– Communities– Tour Operators– Tourists

Environment– Conservation Fund– National Park– More Sustainable than

Hotel/Resort Profit

– Income for community and Tour Operators

*Courtesy of Kenan Institute Asia

Page 22: Elephant Presentation

Homestay

Ban Nam Sai built in 2007, free housing for tsunami victims

Princess’s project We stayed in an entire

house instead of within someone’s home

Capacity for versatility– Large groups or

individuals Limitation for research

– Not enough time– Schedule conflict

Page 23: Elephant Presentation

Ban Nam Sai Personal Story

Interview with May Owned restaurant and home, destroyed by tsunami 3 family members died: Lue’s dad, 3 year old

nephew and 13 year old niece May and family were out of town at a funeral

CBT inspired by volunteers staying in tsunami victims homes– Community decided they could make a business out of

what they were doing We were 2nd guests

– Unsure of foreigners affect on community Naked people Drunk people

Page 24: Elephant Presentation

Success of Ban Nam Sai’s CBT

Adequate accommodation– Rooms not finished

Great service– Food– Laundry– Cleaning– Transportation

Close to beach Welcoming community

Need more activities Need website and link

to network of travel agencies– UNC brochure– 1 day out of a 14 day

stay = success

Page 25: Elephant Presentation

Conclusions

Service provided to Asia Safari: suggest ways to improve sustainability– Improve compost/waste

disposal– Overcrowding in zoo

Service provided to homestay: guinea pigs for their homestay program– Helped with brochure– Feedback

We experienced a fledgling CBT community and saw what goes into making it a reality

We now know the origins, benefits and complications of CBT

We learned that the resources are there for successful eco and community tourism to be successful but it is still getting off the ground

Page 26: Elephant Presentation

Team Joom!