Gymnastics is a unique sport. Besides the physical aspects, it requires determination, self-disciple, patience, perseverance, confidence, self-control and no fear of looking like an idiot sometimes. These are all skills that I have developed in gymnastics and used to achieve my career goals. So now I am at a stage where I can combine these two worlds.
As a wildlife researcher, I focus on Asian Elephants and virus that kills them quite rapidly. I work together with several organization to protect the elephants not only from this disease but from poachers and loss of habitat. In particular, I focus on one of the last truly free-range elephant herds in north Cambodia. There the Thai and Cambodia government have come together to protect this herd as they cross the Thai-Cambodian Border. This is an extensive project. Rangers are trained to protect the Park and its wildlife. Community education programs are conducted to teach the neighboring communities about the valuable resource that is their backyard. In addition to maintaining the current area, we also strive to increase land acquisition to include the migratory path of that these elephants walk generation after generation. Just to maintain this portion of the project is about $200,000 a year.
The ecology research allows us to monitor herd dynamics. This includes DNA dung sampling, annual herd health checks, hormone sampling and unfortunately the occasional autopsy. Specific investigations are done on the virus and tuberculosis as well as other disease as outbreaks arise. This portion of the project varies between $50,000-150,000 a year.
Ultimately, the goal is to intergrate collegiate research degree programs and set-up multiple wildlife monitoring and research stations throughout the area, not only to for wildlife conservation but also for the advancement of Thai and Cambodian researchers and scientific educational opportunities in this region. This multi-phase stage of the project would cost approximately $5 million dollar to establish.
All funds collected will go to the governing non-profit organization for this project (The Pax Copia Foundation). Your donation will be tax deductible.
For more detailed project information contact Catherine directly at mail.creid@gmail.com
I FLIP FOR ELEPHANTS
