VOICE FOR ASIAN ELEPHANTS SOCIETY

Programs

1. Securing and rewilding corridors for odisha elephants - a crisis is unfolding right now-and it is spiraling out of control. According to the wildlife institute of india, the nation's elephant population has plummeted to just 22,446 individuals-a staggering 18% decline from the 27,312 recorded in 2017. This is not a slow decline. This is a collapse unfolding in real time. In odisha alone, nearly 100 elephants have died within just one year, according to odisha's minister of forest and environment-an alarming signal of how rapidly this crisis is escalating at the state level. Over the past decade, 790 elephants have perished in odisha, with electrocution leading as the primary cause of these unnatural deaths. In this time, conflicts have claimed 668 human lives and left 509 others injured, underscoring the shared tragedy of this crisis. In the face of these escalating tragedies, voices for asian elephants is taking bold, frontline action-working alongside grassroots partners like paribartan and indigenous tribal communities. In just one year, we have secured 52 acres of vital corridor land, reconnecting two fragmented forests and restoring a lost migratory path. The result? Over 50…

   $295,383 spentof which $262,413 as grants
   77% of program spending

2. Saving elephants from deadly tracks - elesense - unsustainable development and encroachment in indian forests are pushing endangered asian elephants toward extinction, with 18-20 dying annually in train collisions alone. West bengal, the fourth most densely populated state, is a deadly hotspot, ranking second in elephant deaths on train tracks. To address this crisis, voices for asian elephants and partners launched elesense, a sensor-based early warning system that prevented nearly 1,600 train collisions between january 2023 and august 2025. Installed near tracks cutting through forests, it alerts train pilots of elephant presence within 750 meters, allowing safe braking and deterring elephants from danger zones. Elesense is now being expanded into critical habitats like buxa tiger reserve and chapramari wildlife sanctuary. This indigenous-designed innovation is transforming conservation, safeguarding elephants, and promoting peaceful coexistence.

   $35,217 spent
   9% of program spending

3. Robotic elephants project - in february 2025, voices for asian elephants unveiled the second robotic elephant in india - first in the state of kerala - to replace a live one in temple processions-preserving tradition while preventing cruelty. The launch garnered extensive coverage across at least 30+ major media outlets in english, and malayalam, marking a bold step toward protecting the endangered asian elephant. In kerala alone, the number of captive elephants has dropped from 500 in 2019 to 397 in early 2024, with an average of 25 elephant deaths annually. These animals, often violently captured and exploited in the name of culture, are suffering alongside mahouts, with 293 stampedes in 2023 causing multiple deaths and injuries. The robotic elephants are now inspiring temples to transition away from live elephant use, ensuring public safety and animal welfare. This innovation signals a compassionate cultural shift where tradition and kindness can coexist.

   $29,709 spentof which $14,598 as grants
   8% of program spending

4. Securing forestland to rehabilitate captive elephants - voices for asian elephants is partnering with boon lott's elephant sanctuary in rehabilitating captive elephants rescued from the tourism industry. As part of this collaboration, vfae has contributed 14 acres of land to help expand the boon lott's elephant sanctuary (bles)-creating additional space for elephants to roam freely, without fear or exploitation. Across southeast asia, countless elephants once used in tourism endure lives of control, confinement, and hardship. Many are separated from their families, subjected to harsh training, and denied the freedom that is essential to their well-being. At bles, located in northern thailand, rescued elephants are given the chance to begin again. Here, they are not forced to perform or interact. There are no rides, no chains, and no commands-only space, safety, and the time they need to heal. Spread across more than 600 acres of protected forest, the sanctuary provides a natural environment where elephants can roam freely, form social bonds, and rediscover their instincts. What emerges is something extraordinary: trust rebuilt, trauma softened, and a return to the rhythms of life…

   $21,570 spentof which $13,343 as grants
   6% of program spending

The 4 programs described on its FY2025 Form 990, listed largest first by expense. Program spending in total: $381,879.