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Despite reading everything Tim had sent through in advance, I didn’t really know what to expect when we arrived at the Elephant Freedom Project in Sri Lanka. I just knew I didn’t want to actively participate in something that could be classified as animal cruelty. And this option seemed to tick both my holiday desires – to see elephants up close (I mean, who wouldn’t?) and to do it in the GOOD Travel way.
It appears there’s an abundance of elephant ill treatment in Sri Lanka and elsewhere. Even here, multiple elephant riding centers are located literally next door to the Elephant Freedom Project (EFP). Some of the places market themselves very cleverly and it can be hard to know what’s really going on. So I would recommend you invest a little time in researching your options. Indeed, the EFP may not be for you but let me tell you about our experience.
Some of the places market themselves very cleverly and it can be hard to know what’s really going on. So I would recommend you invest a little time in researching your options.
To avoid a ridiculously early start, we arrived the night before. It’s possible to stay over in their house. Accommodation is quite basic so it’s not for those who are more used to hotel standards. The next morning we received an introductory briefing from the founder of the project, Tim, who was hosting us that day. He explained the principles behind the project and his passion and strong beliefs clearly shone through.
Then we saw the elephant, Manika, for the first time. She was waiting for us on the road, ready to start her morning walk. She’s forty years old and if you’ve never seen an adult elephant up close, turns out they’re massive! It was quite a surreal sight to have an elephant just walking along a road being followed by six tourists, none of whom were riding the elephant. It’s important to note that at no point in the day do you actually ride the elephant. Whilst that may sound disappointing to some, Tim went through an extensive list of reasons as to why it is cruel on the elephants. Unfortunately, as Manika is a rescued elephant (she used to work in logging), she would have been ‘broken’ already. However, Tim wanted Manika to have a good quality of life from now on. All this discussion took place while Manika, to her delight, was munching on a banana tree she had just pulled down.
The project is open and honest about its beliefs, strengths and indeed weaknesses; they would be the first to admit that it is by no means perfect. However after talking to them you realise ‘rescuing’ elephants is actually far more complicated than you think, with many complex issues to consider. This project is tiny in the grand scheme of things; one elephant ‘saved’. And whilst it may have some self confessed faults at the moment, I was pleased to have chosen the most ethical option I could find in Sri Lanka. Plus in the afternoon you get to wash Manika in the river, which was a really cool experience.
Did you know an elephant is actually really hairy?!