Thai-based beachfront resort Meliá Koh Samui has provided land for a community farm to help feed elephants rescued from exploitation activities.
Located 200m from Meliá Koh Samui on the north-eastern tip of Koh Samui island, the 250m2 farm supports 200 banana trees, as well as additional elephant fodder such as napier and sweet grass.
Meliá Koh Samui comes to the rescue to feed elephants during tough times
The formation of the farm was spurred by news that ethical elephant sanctuary Samui Elephant Haven was struggling to feed its herd of 21 elephants in the wake of a tourist drought due to the pandemic.
“These magnificent animals need to eat 10 per cent of their body weight in food daily, which is up to 400kg per elephant,” said the resort’s general manager, Ernesto Osuna. “With the sanctuary trying to survive on only five per cent of the funding necessary, its herd has been getting only a fraction of its normal food intake.”
To educate guests about the plight of rescued elephants and encourage them to visit and support the sanctuary, Meliá Koh Samui has unveiled an elephant mascot Coco to provide information about the Haven and as a host for educational activities about the elephants at the resort’s kids club.
Thai-based beachfront resort Meliá Koh Samui has provided land for a community farm to help feed elephants rescued from exploitation activities.
Located 200m from Meliá Koh Samui on the north-eastern tip of Koh Samui island, the 250m2 farm supports 200 banana trees, as well as additional elephant fodder such as napier and sweet grass.
The formation of the farm was spurred by news that ethical elephant sanctuary Samui Elephant Haven was struggling to feed its herd of 21 elephants in the wake of a tourist drought due to the pandemic.
“These magnificent animals need to eat 10 per cent of their body weight in food daily, which is up to 400kg per elephant,” said the resort’s general manager, Ernesto Osuna. “With the sanctuary trying to survive on only five per cent of the funding necessary, its herd has been getting only a fraction of its normal food intake.”
To educate guests about the plight of rescued elephants and encourage them to visit and support the sanctuary, Meliá Koh Samui has unveiled an elephant mascot Coco to provide information about the Haven and as a host for educational activities about the elephants at the resort’s kids club.