A new
day is beginning. The howdah, the traditional wooden saddle, is secured
onto place for the tourists of the day.
Elephant
safaris give tourists an oppurtunity to observe wildlife at a close
distance. These Indian rhinos, members of an endangered species, live
in the wild at Baghmara in Chitwan, Nepal.
In
wildlife conservation, working elephants are used in a multitude of
tasks. This elephant works at Chitwan National Park in Nepal and is
about to carry a mechanic, the man in the white shirt, to the jungle
where a driver has radioed that his jeep has broken down. Chitwan has
one of the densest populations of tigers in the world, making it
impossible to cross the jungle on foot or horseback.
Carrying
of hay and firewood also belong to the daily chores of some mahouts
(elephant handlers) and elephants.
A mother and young elephant are taken for a grazing walk. The umbrella offers some protection from the midday sun.
Elephants
and their handlers on the way to pick up tourists at the village of
Sauraha in Chitwan, Nepal.
An
elephant carrying tourists in Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal.
The hole in the elephant's ear is a result from getting hit with the
sharp end of an ankus (bullhook), which is widely used in punishing
elephants. WEPA seeks to work together with elephant handlers in order
to introduce efficient, animal-friendly alternative handling methods in
order to make such injurious practices unnecessary.
Bath
time: a break during a working day.
As
charismatic animals, elephants can act as ambassadors of the animal
kingdom to young minds. This group of schoolchildren is visiting the
Elephant Breeding Centre at Khorsor in Chitwan, Nepal.