elephant presentation
TRANSCRIPT
Elephant Trekking and Tourism Sustainability in Khao Lak,
Thailand
Kelley BergGrace LeeHanna LinstadtShannon Skelton
Asia Safari Khao Lak, Thailand Est. 2001 Elephant Trekking Zoo Orchid Garden Restaurant
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
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
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
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
^ Day: chained under a large awning when not trekking
> Night: chained in an uncovered hilly area
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
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
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
Course Mapping
Rubber trees and processing facility
Fruit trees
Trail Natural trail, widened by
humans– No trees were cut down
Biodiversity– Elephants scare away small
animals– “No squirrel no more”
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
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?
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
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
Indicators of Sustainability
CompostOrganic gardenIntergenerational skillCommunity involvementElephants’ and Nature’s
well being (debatable)Precautionary PrinciplesMore natural = more customers =
sustainability both economically and environmentally
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
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
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
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
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
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
Team Joom!