A fundraising programme to buy food for elephants living in a conservation area and under the care of Airavata Elephant Foundation is being initiated by the Ministry of Tourism.

The ministry said in a letter yesterday that it will set up a campaign called “Help one elephant with 2,000 Riels or $0.50” to buy bananas or sugar cane and targets local and foreign philanthropists to support the Airavata Elephant Foundation which needs money for food and conservation of elephants in Ratanakiri province.

“Money from the donations will also contribute to the protection, conservation and breeding of elephants to increase the number of these rare animals, especially as an important contribution to the management of natural resources and biodiversity conservation,” the ministry said.

It said that the Elephant Conservation Association and the ministry call on tour operators, travel agencies and philanthropists to donate to the association or the foundation via ABA bank account (001 674 633) and ACLEDA bank account (15255639).

It noted that Airavata Elephant Foundation was established more than eight years ago with the aim of conserving and increasing the elephant population in the northeastern province, especially giving tourists the opportunity to get acquainted with the endangered species.

Cambodia’s elephants are facing extinction due to poaching and deforestation.

Khay Chenda, President of Airavata Elephant Foundation, said yesterday that the Ministry of Tourism organised the fund raising campaign not because the elephants were short of food, but to support the elephant association, which has also been committed to vital social work for the past eight years.

She added that apart from elephant conservation work, the foundation also works to promote the environment, preserve Khmer cultural traditions, and promote ecotourism.