Hungry times at Thailand's elephant sanctuaries
This sanctuary is struggling to feed its elephants
Location: Kanchanaburi, Thailand
as tourist numbers have declined
and it was forced to close its gates
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) MANAGER OF TAWEECHAI ELEPHANT CAMP, DUMRONG LONGSAKUL, SAYING:
"I have been stressed to the point that I can't sleep. I don't know what to do. I'm trying to assess the situation slowly step-by-step, which includes looking at the state of the emergency situation and my savings for the next 15 to 30 days and the tourists that might come in (after the camp re-opens)."
Taweechai camp is home to 25 elephants
and 75 staff members
It usually welcomes 100 tourists a day
but is now one of many animal sanctuaries
struggling to cope in Thailand
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 29-YEAR-OLD MAHOUT, SOMKIT METHEECHOTIKUL, SAYING:
"Elephants are like our family members. If they are eating well, sleeping well, that makes me happy. If the elephants get sick, we (mahouts) will not get paid, so we need to take good care of them."
