We sincerely appreciate your concern about the usage of actual funds raised.

The Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project (AEACP) is a 501(c)3 charity organization dedicated to saving the diminishing number of Asian Elephants left on our planet through our work with domesticated elephants. The AEACP promotes and sells the work of elephant artists as a way to raise funds for and increase public awareness of the plight of Asian Elephants.

We strive to give as many elephants as we can, a happy, healthy, enriched existence.  Money raised by the AEACP is used to provide the elephants with better food, improved shelter, and proper veterinary care. It is also used to fund the further education of mahouts (elephant caretakers) in the humane treatment of elephants. We do not tolerate any abuse of the elephants either while painting or in everyday interaction.

To be even more specific, we actually send 30% of each sale directly back to the elephant that created the painting being purchased.  As it is hard to send money to an elephant exactly, the money goes to the elephant's mahout and/or to the camp or rescue center where the elephant resides.  This money is given under the condition that it must be used to benefit the elephants in some way. In addition, we have in place proper-care contracts with each camp and maintain trusted liaisons at each location that oversee the proper distribution of funds.

The remaining money raised from the sale of the paintings goes in part toward completing the long-term initiatives set forth in our mission statement.  In addition to such projects, funding from the sale of paintings also goes toward maintaining the AEACP website presence and covering administrative and operating costs. That said, we consciously try to maintain a streamlined operation in order to keep down administrative costs and to ensure that the maximum amount of money possible does actually benefit the elephants.

Aside from maintaining our website as a source of information and as a gallery and exhibition space for the elephant camps that we represent, much of our time and energy is spent organizing actual museum and gallery exhibitions. For example, we have held auctions of elephant art at Christie’s New York, as well as museum shows at the Berkeley Museum of Art in California, the Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art in Australia, and the Kawamura Museum of Art in Japan.

We make a concerted effort to set ourselves apart from other organization and companies by actively trying elevate the status of the artwork and bring the concept of elephant art to the masses, while at the same time providing necessary relief funding to the elephants in Asia.

We hope that this helps to provide you added insurance that your support does indeed help to make a difference. Thank you for your diligence and support in helping to save these majestic creatures from extinction.

David Ferris
Director
Asian Elephant Art & Conservation Project
dferris@elephantart.com
T: 212.625.0939

LETTERS TO THE AEACP FROM ELEPHANT CAMPS IN THAILAND, CAMBODIA, AND INDONESIA

RECEIVED ON 1/24/08:
FROM: SEAN FLAKELAR
DIRECTOR OF AMANJIWO HOTEL, AEACP LIASON FOR KANDANG GAJAH CAMP IN BOROBUDUR, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA

“There have been some great improvements with the elephant lodgings, Taman Wisata after much negotiation have built a roof to cover the whole compound to give the elephants more shade and protect them from the heavy rains. They have also improved the drainage, concreted the whole flooring, placed a wider fence around the initial living area which now allows the elephants to roam free, play more in the pool, etc. The health of all the elephants from my observation are quite good, Sela eye will need a cataract operation at some stage but apart from that is in good spirits and looks really happy.
  We will also be sending you a full report of the three Mahouts who were sponsored by AEACP to travel to Sumatra last December. The objective was to receive special training in Sumatra to develop there skills and increase there elephant husbandry knowledge, it was well received by each Mahout who were very happy to learn more about how to handle and train the elephants especially in a natural environment like in the Sumatra. I feel they benefited a great deal and all came back very enthusiastic and more open minded when discussing new ideas.

All in all, elephants, artists, and Mahouts are all well and send there best regards to you and to everyone involved in the Elephant Art Project around the world.”

RECEIVED ON 2/9/08:
FROM: EWA NARKEIWICZ
DIRECTOR OF ELEPHANTSTAY PROGRAM AT AYUTTHAYA ELEPHANT PALACE AND ROYAL KRAAL IN AYUTTHAYA, THAILAND

“In terms of the money, as we only use the younger elephants here for painting it is basically a source of income for them which contributes to their food and being looked after. In addition, money raised from sales is going to build a new nursery and sponsor a baby elephant.

In addition, we have just got two more old elephants and also another old female that had killed someone.  We won’t be using her in our program, but it is good that the owner heard of our place and sent her here rather than having her shot.”

RECEIVED ON 9/11/04:
FROM: KHUN ANCHALEE KULMAPIJIT
DIRECTOR OF MAESA ELEPHANT CAMP IN CHIANG MAI, THAILAND

For the benefit to the elephants:  We surely spend the money carefully on the welfare and health care of all the elephants.  As we informed you, we received two new babies in June, plus other young ones, two of which are still nursed by mothers.  We have built new elephant chambers and maintain the actual chambers and shelters in the Maesa Nursery.  Money is also being spent on medication and nutrition supplements for babies, mothers and the young elephants in our Procreation Project.  Moreover, some money has been set aside for adult elephants in the camp. We are watching over 70 elephants!  Every single baht [thai money] helps in managing the well being of the elephant.  We concentrate on the elephant health and sufficient food and living conditions.  Our mahouts are also supported in many ways should need be, beside the monthly salaries.  They are the closest persons to our elephants, so we realize how important they are.  To fill you up a little bit more, we have replaced the old elephant pier, which makes loading passengers on elephants more convenience, assists in the better working condition for the elephants who give rides.  Maesa Elephant Camp also donated 12 healthy elephants for the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Chiang Mai University for Artificial Insemination Study and the Thai Elephant Conservation Program, which we are responsible for all expenses incurred. We always keep in mind that the money from the hard work of our elephants should go back to them in the good ways.  Thank you again for your support.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Khun Anchalee

RECEIVED ON 9/3/04:
FROM: NICK MARX
DIRECTOR OF TAMAO RESCUE CENTER IN PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA

Hi Dave

Many thanks.  Even small amounts of money are really useful. We can usually get funding for the bigger projects, we have to scratch around for money to sort the little things that so badly need doing.

At present the elephants are jogging along nicely, even Pau is behaving herself - perhaps I should keep quiet, this could change very quickly.  Other stuff - we have started our gibbon rehab enclosure, leopard cat radio tracking would have started but the female produced 2 kittens so this will have to wait a few weeks and we have just moved some of our dhole into a fantastic new enclosure to start a new breeding programme.  The otters I hand raised in my apartment are now at Phnom Tamao but seem to manage to cause as much anxiety as they did before the move and we have many other youngsters to worry about. So never a dull moment.

Hope all goes well with you. Say Hi to everyone and thanks for your work on our behalf.

Take care

Nick

RECEIVED ON 9/4/04:
FROM: SEAN FLAKELAR
DIRECTOR OF AMANJIWO HOTEL, LIASON BETWEEN AEACP AND KANDANG GAJAH CAMP IN BOROBUDUR, CENTRAL JAVA, INDONESIA

Dear Dave,
Many thanks for the funds, they will help with some needed materials, I will let you know once we get it through.  Sela’s eye has been looked at and it is in the early stages of a cataract, she has a white spot that has been growing over the eye but hopefully with some eye ointment received from an eye hospital it should stop it.

We will be having an exhibition with Robertus & Win in December to push through some works that we have compiled.

Slowly building up enough funds to perhaps buy some art materials for the local school & give the elephant compound a paint.

Will keep in touch.

Best Regards
Sean