The TreadRight Foundation, created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation’s (TTC) family of brands has announced that it will support TreadRight Heritage Initiative partner Wildlife SOS – India this coming Earth Day. For every booking made on Saturday, April 22, 2017 with TTC’s family of award winning brands around the world including Contiki, Insight Vacations and Trafalgar, The TreadRight Foundation will donate US$1 to Wildlife SOS – India to help save elephants in abusive or harmful situations.
Each dollar donated by TreadRight to Wildlife SOS as part of the Earth Day campaign will go directly towards supporting the organization’s land fund for the Elephant Conservation and Care Centre in Mathura, India with the goal of expanding the existing rescue centre in order to provide space to house 50 more elephants that are in need of rescue.
“Working with Wildlife SOS in India as one of our TreadRight Wildlife Initiative partners, we’ve had the tremendous opportunity to fully appreciate the remarkable effort and care their entire organization commits to saving elephants,” says Brett Tollman, Chief Executive, TTC and Founder, TreadRight Foundation. “That is why our travel brands across the planet are participating in this important Earth Day campaign, helping Wildlife SOS secure the land required to care for elephants still desperately in need of rescuing from harmful situations.”
Asian elephants in India suffer from a lack of elephant welfare awareness and public awareness, which sadly results in the exploitation of elephants for street begging, circus performances / entertainment and temple processions. Wildlife SOS in India aims to help rescue and rehabilitate elephants in distress, including those being used illegally under deprived conditions.
Wildlife SOS currently offer medical services to elephants in need, and train their handlers on humane treatment and management. They also run two elephant conservation and rehabilitation centres in India.
“Wildlife SOS is dedicated to the protection and conservation of the Asian Elephant in India, which remains the last stronghold of these magnificent mammals in the wild,” said Kartick Satyanarayan, Co-Founder and CEO, Wildlife SOS – India. “Awareness and training workshops for law enforcement, elephant owners and caretakers are vital to changing age old mindsets and policies that have allowed elephants to continue to be harvested from the wild and held in cruel captivity. We are grateful to The TreadRight Foundation for extending their support to Wildlife SOS to help save the Asian Elephant.”
In addition, TTC, TreadRight, and Wildlife SOS will publish “A Guide to Ethical Elephant Experiences” featuring important tips to help responsible travellers know what to avoid, to ensure their elephant experiences are rewarding for people and elephants alike.