WHO WE ARE
The Elephant Care Relief is a project set up in Sri Lanka, that’s sole focus is the physical and mental health of Domesticated Elephants. We are determined to make a change to the conditions currently faced by all of Sri Lanka’s Domesticated Elephant population. We aim to create a paradise where we can properly focus on the welfare and well-being of these elephants, letting them have endless space to roam freely, making sure they are attended to in all aspects of their mental and physical health, and that they never have to live in fear ever again. We want to serve as an inspiration to others in Sri Lanka, to show that these elephants deserve our utmost respect and that we cannot continue to uphold the conditions that all domesticated elephants are forced to go through.
Being set up in 2015, Amarasiri has made it his mission to constantly evolve the project in a way that is putting the ECR at the forefront of ethicality in Sri Lanka’s elephant tourism. With the edition of Myszka as Project Manager, operations have continued to further in the correct way, making sure the overall vision has always been the elephant’s mental and physical health being the primary concern.
We are always finding new ways to innovate and evolve correctly, making sure that we have a project we can be truly proud of, and we never stop becoming the best that we possibly can be.
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Elephant Care Relief is to create an ethical space where domesticated elephants can be cared for properly; be mentally and physically healed, feel safe, feel free, and avoid the harsh condition's that they are forced to face. We always want to be the best version of ourselves, striving to constantly evolve our facilities and practices in the most ethical way.
THE PROBLEMS
DOMESTICATED ELEPHANTS FACE
Sri Lanka is home to 3000 elephants, and around 200 are domesticated. These domesticated elephants have to work daily, from morning to evening, with limited food and water and are used to being controlled by force. Work includes hard labor, where they carry huge trees from inside the forest, weighing up to 350kg, using their mouths. They are also used in the widely popular tourist attraction of elephant back riding, where they carry tourists, often in groups, which can weigh up to 200kg. They are usually carried on large containers that damage the backs and lungs of the elephants. Even in places where they carry one person at a time, they are still not exempt from the harsh conditions used to control them on a daily basis. Elephants that continue to live like this will suffer from mental illness, and undernourishment, and will slowly die from this treatment. As a result, instead of living their lifespan of 80-100 years, they won’t make it past 55. Despite being such important icons of the Buddhist religion in Sri Lanka, they are still being exploited for tourism.
AMARASIRI'S DREAM
Amarasiri founded the E.C.R.F in 2015, after seeing how elephants were treated and exploited for tourism firsthand. The dream of Mr Amarasiri, and the project, is to one day get a huge piece of land where we can house up to 15 elephants at one time. In his belief, the life, health, and happiness of the elephants is more important than making a profit through them. His mindset of elephants and their wellbeing is unconventional in Sri Lanka. Because of this, there is no governmental funding for the project, making it a self-sustained organisation. Therefore, the ECRF is dependent on you. Get involved here by Volunteering or Donating.
Visit our FAQ's for more information on the elephants and their Mahout at ECRF.
PROJECT MANAGER
I am the manager of the project, I deal with mainly the external side of things, as well as being the main volunteer coordinator.
Sri Lanka is my second home and I have been living here since 2018. I am originally from Brixton in London. I am the one you speak to if you reach out to us!
PROJECT FOUNDER
I am the founder of the ECRF. I was born and raised in Sri Lanka. The sanctuary is my dream and I created this project from scratch.
I deal with mainly the internal side of things, as well as making sure our volunteers are safe and happy. I welcome all volunteers as part of the family in our homestay.