Elephant Hug and Care Program

Elephant volunteer in Chitwan

The southern part of Nepal is plain where there is thick jungle where live different kind of wild animals. Chitwan National park is very famous for Jungle safari programs and people go jungle safari by riding elephants and an elephant carries four people at once to Jungle activities. Chitwan National Park is an exciting and diverse wildlife haven. Chitwan National Park is located in 175 Kms south’s west of Kathmandu. It provides excellent opportunities to view rare species such as the sloth bear, bison, leopard and the elusive tiger. The common species such as deer, rhinoceros and wild boar are in abundance. A serene float down Rapti river in dugout canoe offer the chance to view many of the more than 450 species of exotic birds including Giant Hornbill, Lesser Florican and Paradise flycatcher.

Asian Elephants are (Elephas maximus) unique in themselves. They are domesticated creatures and follow the instructions the mahout gives. Elephants are symbol of good luck and it’s amazing opportunity to be with this mighty creature. During volunteering period you will have great opportunity to have behavioral study of Asian Elephants.The temperature of Terai region where elephants live is divided into a cool (October to mid February) and a hot period (midFebruary to June). Temperatures range from 10◦C in January to 41◦C in May. In chitwan there is an elephant breeding facility at the Chitwan National Park where baby elephants and their mother live. At present, there are altogether 208 captive elephants in Nepal. The majorities of private elephants are in and around Chitwan National Park, and are mainly used for tourism purposes. Government elephants are mainly used for patrolling and research purposes whereas private elephants are mostly used for forest excursions and for entertaining tourists in buffer zones of parks and reserves.Elephant eat around 250 kilograms food each day and drink about200 liter water. And an elephant have to keep on eating most of the time because of its poor digestive mechanism. An elephant loves swimming and it has to be taken for bath each day.

Your duty as skilled volunteer

If you are veterinary student or researcher you can make research on Elephants regarding their behavior, or on Elephant tuberculosis a chronic disease that has affected much the captive elephants in Nepal. For such research programs the permission of Nepal government is essential. If your requirements meet, we will help you in it.

Your duty as General Elephant Volunteer

A Typical Volunteer day

You will assist to take care of the elephants of a resort located in Chitwan national park. The Elephants usually go Safari around 6:30 am with tourists each morning till 10 am. Then Elephants are taken for drinking water and bathing. The Elephants do not bath during winter. The Mahouts prepare food till 2 Pm and at 2 PM the elephants are taken for Safari for tourists again. until 5 Pm. Your main duty is to help in preparing food, help in bathing and work for the special care of the elephants while they are staying in the resort. Grass is main food of elephants and they also eat leaves, twigs, bamboo, bark, roots, fruit, seeds and flowers. Elephants only digest about 40% of the food they eat as they have poor digestive systems. This means they have to eat lots of food to make sure they get all the nutrients they need. Elephant are given special food containing molasses inside covered with hay or grass.

Elephant Dung Paper: Paper is made from elephant dung which is eco friendly work. As a volunteer you can take part few hours a day in this project to make paper. The paper made can be distributed to poor students who live nearby for school stationary purpose.

Operating conditions:

working days: Monday – Sunday

working times: 1-4 h/day

lodging: at project premises: host family in a hotel

food: 3 meals per day (local food)

We will make your living arrangements in a standard Hotel situated in sauraha chitwan. Three times food will be provided (Tea, bread, rice, lentils, curry etc) or if you would like to eat food of your choice you are welcome for that too