WEPA - Working Elephant Programme of Asia

Working Elephant Programme of Asia
Science-based, animal-friendly methods for training and handling of working elephants

Positive
Learning
Method

Handling
Methods

Workshops

Well-Being
of Handlers

Elephant
Facts

Training
FAQ's

Why the
Need for
Elephant-
Friendly
Methods?

WEPA in a Nutshell

WEPA, Working Elephant Programme of Asia, is a registered non-profit organization that develops and promotes animal-friendly methods for elephant training and handling.

WEPA is an expert organization in the field of elephant training and handling, with an interest in improving lives of captive elephants as well as lives of people working with them.

WEPA's elephant training and handling methods are based on animal behaviour science and professional elephant training experience. This is why they provide a reliable alternative to commonly used methods in which elephants are controlled by inflicting pain.

To make the methods available to those who can benefit from them, WEPA co-operates with a growing network of partners across countries and cultures.

Positive Learning Method is an elephant training method developed by experts in animal behaviour science and professional elephant training.

Handling Methods of WEPA apply the same principles in improving everyday handling and reliability of working elephants.

Workshops of WEPA give elephant trainers and handlers an opportunity to enhance their skills in successful elephant management. Topics covered include health, nutrition, handling methods, solving of behaviour problems, improvements in equipment, and work safety.

How to Combine Efficiency with Animal-Friendliness?

What makes WEPA's methods unique is their scientific basis. They are built on a detailed analysis of factors affecting animal learning and well-being.

Another crucial factor in developing the methods was an involvement of selected professional elephant trainers with long experience.

The joint basis of science and practical experience has made it possible to optimize the methods in several respects. In addition to providing an animal-friendly way to train and handle elephants, the methods also improve the elephants' learning rate and reliability and the work safety of staff.

Networking with Partners

WEPA's work is largely based on co-operation with various partners, including both government bodies and non-governmental organizations.

In Nepal, our partner organization is Green Society Nepal, an non-profit working for environmental and social improvements.

Other important co-operating partners include the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Nepal, as well as the Elephant Breeding Centres in Chitwan and Bardia. WWF Nepal, an office of the World Wide Fund for Nature, has also been in a key role in developing the programme.

WWF Finland is the main financial contributor, and our acitivites are organized as part of their programme of integrated development and conservation.

World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) has given additional financial support for the start-up phase.

HELP Foundation (Human Elephant Learning Programs) is an Australian-based NGO that was recently founded on the same principles as WEPA, and will work in co-operation.

Australia Zoo and Zoological Society of London have contributed expertise in the form of provided experienced elephant trainers as visiting experts.

In the photo above, Chandra Man Tamang (on the ground), one of WEPA's key co-workers in Nepal, trains a young elephant with the Positive Learning Method. Here the elephant is learning to respond to cues for turning that are given by the rider, mahout Rajbir Chaudhary.

Meeting of East and West

Cross-cultural co-operation is the cornerstone of WEPA's mode of working. Interaction of Asian governments, elephant trainers, and NGO's with Western scientists and elephant trainers provides a foundation for combining the best of both worlds. It also provides the basis for tailoring the methods to meet the specific needs of local conditions and cultures.