Human-Elephant Learning Programs Foundation

04/02/2026

It has been a busy four days and we are going to miss the elephants at Manas National Park.

03/02/2026

It is all smiles here at Manas National Park. Inspiring visit to Assam, India.

25/02/2025

Thank you, Nicki Stuart. Just one of the creative ways to support our mission.

"A very generous $1255 raised to for the Human-Elephant Learning Programs Foundation THANK YOU to all who have donated! These funds will go towards H-ELP's work in the field throughout SE Asia - Advancing Elephant Welfare." - Nicki Stuart

It's my birthday and a big passion of mine is making a kinder world for elep… HELP Foundation needs your support for Nicki's Birthday Fundraiser For Elephants

07/02/2025

🚨 BIG NEWS in animal welfare! 🚨

Dr. McLean, founder of HELP Foundation, co-authored the groundbreaking 2020 Five Domains Model of Animal Welfare—now the most cited and utilized model ever! 🌍🐾

It’s so influential that Harvard University is translating it into multiple languages, ranking it #1 out of 61 top publications in 2023! 📚✨ With over 100,000 downloads up to the end of 2024, this model is changing the way we understand and improve animal welfare.

🐶🐱🐴 Because their mental well-being matters too! 💙

24/12/2024

What a year‼
We are still on a high with having held our first international elephant welfare camp, at the National Elephant Institute in Thailand this year. We absolutely couldn't do this work without the support of a great number of people. The H-ELP board has been tireless and our sponsors have been extremely generous.

The work we have been doing for the past fifteen years has made a difference but the international mahout school has increased our reach exponentially and it is time now to build on that progress.

Onwards and upwards!🐘
Merry Christmas and have a great New Year everyone!❤

Link to our donation page - https://h-elp.org/leave-a-donation?fbclid=IwY2xjawHXJVZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHdmiENSoifasWPmtCEdQIn2y9JYA30O3DOa9Z-c57OtSoJ9sUasKQ2FgnQ_aem_NrZaW5ORyEkdA6xEADwi9g

17/12/2024

We are thrilled to share our training app - H-ELP Modern Elephant Training - a cutting-edge tool designed to empower our volunteers and onboard new members. This initiative aims to streamline onboarding, share valuable insights, and establish a consistent training protocol across all levels.

The App has the potential to be one of the biggest game changers in the field of captive elephant welfare, helping to disseminate our methods into many more areas and countries. While we have previously relied on our training manuals, the App gives the added advantage of animation videos and can be downloaded for free on demand.

H-ELP Modern Elephant Training is available on the app store for both Apple and Android users.

Apple - https://apps.apple.com/mn/app/help-modern-elephant-training/id6449340414
Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.helpFoundation.elephantTraining

Check out all the training materials and resources on our app now :)
Do leave a comment below if you're already using the app. We would love to know your thoughts 🐘

11/12/2024

Establishing a clear and consistent animal-human communication is not easy, and it may even differ with language and culture. Considering the language barrier and the 4,000 years of cultural tradition in dealing with captive elephants, it is critical we find appropriate ways to assist Mahouts in creating positive and sustainable changes in their training techniques. This means being a good communicator and more importantly, a good listener to both the voice and body language. Additionally, a caring and patient smile, a hand on the shoulder, humour (while not in language), laughing, being relaxed, empathetic and sensitive go a long way in building trust, improving communication and establishing receptive learning atmos. In reflection, these qualities also make a person a great animal trainer; the empathetic, calm, and sensitive observer as animals often communicate in body language.

10/12/2024

I wouldn't usually do this, but... it's my birthday tomorrow! And being a 'big one' I thought it would be nice to use it for a good cause. You may know that I volunteer with The Human-Elephant Learning Programs Foundation, giving what I can to making the world a better place for captive elephants. We recently held our first international workshop and it was, I believe, transformational on so many levels. So, tomorrow, if you fancy adding your bit to this cause I am asking that instead (or as well!) of wishing me many happy returns here on Facebook that you consider making a donation via the GoFundMe page that I have set up. Here is the link:
https://gofund.me/91b0404a
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my birthday post. Wishing you all the best for the festive season.
Nicki

It's my birthday and a big passion of mine is making a kinder world for elep… HELP Foundation needs your support for Nicki's Birthday Fundraiser For Elephants

23/11/2024

Elephants are prone to foot and nail infections‼

We teach vets and mahouts to gently teach an elephant to raise their foot for a health check.

08/11/2024

Final day of our international training camp. Congratulations and thank you to all participants! May we make a gentler world for elephants. 🐘

07/11/2024

Day 2 of our international training camp was very well received. In the morning our classroom activities encouraged insightful questions and discussions about different customs and training. In the afternoon our mahouts were able to put theory into practice, which will lead to a kinder world for elephants.

06/11/2024