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Working
Elephant Programme of Asia
Science-based,
animal-friendly methods for management of working elephants
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Welcome
to the World of Elephants!
This site is a
window
to the work of WEPA, a non-profit organization providing
information and tutoring in management of captive elephants.
Our aim is
to bring together the best available knowledge, for the benefit of both
elephants and their handlers.
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Meeting of East and West
All our field activities are planned and implemented as a cooperation
between Asian professionals in elephant use and Western experts in the
science and practice of elephant management. The activities also
provide a continuous cross-cultural learning experience, with the
various
partners cooperating to combine the best contributions from
both worlds.
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Improved Safety and Animal-Friendliness
Most of our work so far has focused on giving courses on advanced
methods in elephant training. Based on scientific expertise and a long
practical experience on animal learning and behaviour, the elephant
trainers in our network have devised a training method that optimizes
both animal-friendliness and reliability.
The new method has been rapidly embraced in Nepal, the first
country we are working in. Local professional trainers have welcomed
the improvements in safety of training, learning rate and obedience of
elephants, and animal-friendliness of the method.
The results have attracted interest in several other Asian countries.
Most working elephants in Asia are trained and handled by methods that
involve pain and injury. There is currently more demand from various
countries for tutoring in the new methods than there are financial
resources to fulfil these requests, but the trainers in our network are
doing
their best.
Improved Living Conditions
The well-being of elephants also largely depends on their everyday
environment. Nutrition and health care can be enhanced through
networking of local experts. Equipment often has significant potential
for improvement, such as developing saddle designs that do not excert
pressure on the spine. Chaining of elephants while not at work could in
many cases be altered to promote better health of joints by allowing
natural movements.
Elephant management is another field in which the network of WEPA can
provide professional assistance. We are currently seeking further
financial
resources in order to be of assistance in this field too.
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Copyright
© 2009-2012 WEPA, Working Elephant Programme of Asia. All rights
reserved.
Photographs © WEPA/Minna Tallberg.
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