WHO WE ARE

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 paintings done by elephants as a way to raise funds for and increase public awareness of the plight of Asian Elephants. These talented elephants paint by holding a brush in their trunk. They are able to paint on paper, canvas, fabric, etc. Very much like people, each elephant has their own style and technique.

Asian Elephants (Elephas Maximus) are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, meaning that they are currently in danger of becoming extinct. The difference between Asian Elephants and other endangered species however is that a large number (1/3) of those remaining live in captivity. Our goal is to improve the welfare of captive elephants by facilitating appropriate standards of training, care, and habitat as well as to sustain and protect wild elephant populations.

THE PLIGHT OF THE ELEPHANTS

The elephants' natural habitat is disappearing at an alarming rate due to illegal logging, the encroachment of slash and burn farming practices, and climate change. These factors, in addition to continued poaching and human-elephant conflict have led to a sharp decrease in the wild Asian Elephant population. With less and less habitat in which to live and an ever- growing human population, the future of the elephant does not look promising.

At the turn of the century, there were approximately 300,000 Asian Elephants within Thailand’s borders alone. Today, there are only 1000 wild elephants and 2000 domesticated elephants remaining in Thailand.

Many animals face similar problems, but Asian Elephants are unique in that such a large number of the remaining population exists in captivity. In an ideal world, the elephants would roam free through lush open forests. Unfortunately, this is becoming less and less of an option. We believe that the elephants’ survival lies in giving value back to domesticated elephants as much as it does in protecting the remaining wild population. The reality of the situation drives home the fact that for Asian Elephants to survive, both humans and elephants must find ways to coexist.

THE AEACP AS A RESPONSE

For many years, Asian Elephants were employed in logging the lush teak forests of Thailand and its neighboring countries. This was until 98% of the forests were completely cleared. In 1990, the Thai government finally banned logging within its borders in an effort to save what little forest was left. Although the ban was very much needed, it left thousands of domesticated elephants and their mahouts unemployed. Also, as sad and ironic as it seems, the elephants essentially helped humans to destroy their own habitat, thus leaving them with no wild to return to. As such, the elephants fell into a basic state of neglect. Similar situations of habitat loss are still occurring today all across Southeast Asia, most acutely in Cambodia and Indonesia.

In response to this dilemma, pioneering artists Alex Melamid and Vitaly Komar began teaching the elephants of Asia how to paint. The resulting paintings became a source of income for the elephants and their mahouts. This idea of using art to better the world in which we live and to help save lives was and still is a groundbreaking idea. The elephants’ paintings are now exhibited and sold in museums, stores, galleries, and auction houses all around the world.

ARTWORK

by dana holli
by ging gaow
by Mandate of heaven

by Ging Gaow
by Lucky
by Ging gaow

by Sela
by Naram
by Lakshmi

by Ragg Mopp Vintage
Masquerade Winery
by Victoria Keen

Yod Yeam
lucky

ELephants helping elephants

Proceeds from donations and from the sale of artwork created by the elephants themselves goes to fund elephants in need. This means ensuring the humane treatment of all elephants, as well as providing captive elephants with additional food, improved veterinary care, and additional income to mahouts and their families. Funding also goes toward projects that benefit wild elephant populations. Over the years, this has included projects like the purchase of land to be used as elephant sanctuaries, and for the Elephant Rescue and Abandoned Well Closure Project in Sumatra, Indonesia.