The Elephant Retreat Centre (ERC)

**Laikipia** Fri May 14, 2010 9:19 am

25th March 2011
WARNING: Please read the whole thread. There seems to be an issue with practises of the ERC that are under investigation.

The ERC is a french organisation that is raising funds to help the elephants in Asia who have come to end of their working lives and who deserve to end their lives in peace and with dignity.

http://www.elephantcentre.org/Elephant_Retreat_Centre/Welcome.html

**littlewid** Sun May 23, 2010 4:40 pm

Lai that is quite a heartbreaking link. The centre is expected to open in 2012, but large funds are still needed to open the centre, they have been given the land but monies are still required to fund the place and the staff to work there etc.
There is a really good blog attached to the site that keeps you up to date with what is happening and where they are with things, it is well worth a read for anyone who hasn't read it and especially for all the Elephant lovers on this site.
Thanks for posting the link Lai.

littlewid-x-

**Laikipia** Sun May 23, 2010 5:08 pm

You can also follow them on Facebook. Vincent has just been out there and says progress is being made, but it is a very slow process and meantime some of these old eles are having a really bad time with their mahouts (the person who rides the ele).

It's a difficult thing with these working eles - you would think they would nurture them and really tend to their needs but it isn't always the case sadly.

2012 is a long time away and i hope they can keep the momentum going to raise the funds needed.

Lai elephant

**littlewid** Sun May 23, 2010 6:16 pm

Thanks Lai, i will have a check for them on Facebook and follow them, it's another way of highlighting the good work Vincent is doing.

it is extremely sad how some of the elephants have been treated by their Mahouts. When you read about what has happened to them it just makes you more determined to highlight the good cause of the centre and the work Vincent is doing for them.

littlewid-x-

Anne-Marie1981 Mon May 24, 2010 5:12 pm

It is very sad Sad

and Vincent seems very passionate about it as he seems to send out messages almost daily. I hope to try and donate something over the next couple of months.

**whitestarling** Mon May 24, 2010 6:22 pm

I'm only just catching up with this one I will check it out later thanks for putting it up Kai
WS

**Laikipia** Sat May 29, 2010 11:49 am

Update from Vincent's blog at ERC - 22nd May

May 22, 2010
POWERLESS

These last days are not my best days. I look behind me, I see elephants, owners, mahouts, hope, smiles, agreements, Ministry, NTNC, all these poeople listening to me and me, listening to them. I also see all of us satisfied, sure to have reached a good and fair project. Once I met the Minister, Deepak BOHARA, who offered to le us use 10 square kilometers, that seemed really too much for me and my budget for electric fence. I called Carol who was still in Kathmandu and I told her, she was so happy and said the more the better ! Yes, we obtained many things, even to work with NTNC, the best ONG in NEPAL. Meanwhile, I found myself almost alone here in my own country where I alm surrounded by people who don't really care ( don't say this for he board, of course).
There is one battle I am not sure to win, the one for funds ! So far we received a small donation from a british charity and dollars from individuals.
I thought it was fair to ask large charities and foundations for some help but I realize that this is not so easy. Each charity, even those that own millions, keep their treasure as a bank would also do. I thouth we were sharing the sale cause and that elephans were our priority, knowing it would also help people at the same time.
I will only meet again my contact in Brigitte Bardit Foundation in september, I will be waiting for the answer from IEF grant. I am also in contact with Nancy from Alexander Abraham Foundation, but they would only sponsor us once they come to see, and they don't expect to do so... So far, I don't really see optimistic signs, but I certainly will... I don't care about me, my battle, the cahrity, I care for elephants, the old poor elephants who suffer again and again, and I see me here, powerless...
Posted by ELEPHANT RETREAT CENTER at 1:06 AM

Lai

**littlewid** Sat May 29, 2010 2:06 pm

Lai that is just so sad. here is a man that wants to do so much for the elephants that desperately need his help. It upsets me to read the despair in his words.

I for one do not have the resources to help but does anyone have any idea on how we could help ie, highlighting his cause further than this site, any one with any contacts that may be able to help, anyone with any money to spare for donations, any ideas that may just help with the funds he needs.

I appreciate he requires large amounts but all the little donations do help, maybe we could all put our thinking caps on and see if there is anyway in which we could be of some help.

My caps on and thinking.

littlewid-x-

**Laikipia** Sat May 29, 2010 4:53 pm

I know Littlewid - it's heartbreaking as he is trying so hard. He posts on Facebook everyday, several times, and i really don't know what else he has tried but i would love to help more.

Lai

ditto re the thinking :bom:

**littlewid** Sat May 29, 2010 4:59 pm

Lai i'm not taking my cap off until I have thought of something, no matter how big or small, I am determined to think of something......hopefully two caps will be better than one....thanks for putting yours on as well.

littlewid-x-

**Laikipia** Sat May 29, 2010 5:00 pm

The Elephant Retreat Centre (ERC) 768480

we'll come up with something i am sure

Lai

Anne-Marie1981 Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:24 am

Facebook message from Vincent at the ERC

With your help and our work, we managed to save 2 old elephants in south Nepal. Our 3rd one is called KUMARI KALI, old and adorable and deseres to stop to work. But we want to be clear. We also need donations to build stables for elephants, get small equipment and vet equipment. Sadly, elephant eat a lot too, and once saved you still have to pay for their food. Help an elephant is also build what will surround him and the people who will care for them. We are proud of what you allowed us to achieve. Of course, we're far from being ready... If you can help, only if you can, that would great. For this, we may donate from our website www.elephantcentre.org or by wie transfert. And in 2011, we'll be so happy to meet you there...
Thank you in advance for your kind contribution.
Vincent (Founder)

**Laikipia** Thu Jun 03, 2010 12:23 pm

Good news and great to read, as he says eles eat a lot elephant

so they need more funds.

Thanks for posting Anne-Marie

Lai

**Laikipia** Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:29 pm

Update from Vincent's blog - 7th June

June 7, 2010
GREAT NEWS !

Nothing's better than going in Nepal and meet people !
Minster of Forest, Deepak BOHARA, has been very kind and really excited by our project. He allowed us to use - free of charge - some large land (between 5 and 10 square kilometers). He also gave us the best local partner we could dream of: NTNC (National Trust for Nature Conservation). NTNC is based in Chitwan. They will help ud negotiate, heal, report and audit our accounts. This is an additional guarantee for helpers and benefactors. Our official agreement will be signed on july 15th.

Other great news: the rescue of 2 elephants. Modi Prasad this giant tuskless who suffers from his knees will be bought by 2 foundations, one small foundation and Brigitte Bardot Foundation. Bassante Kali, this poor old elephant who was beaten by a cruel mahout will be bought with the donations we receiced and Alexander Abraham Foundation. These 2 elephants will soon be retired and will enjoy their new land.

What we need now is getting funds for equipment: build stables, install electric fence, annual money for elephants and salaries for mahouts. We've been working hard to get money and contact many people from USA or England. We could be soon travelling to Southampton or even Seattle.
Posted by ELEPHANT RETREAT CENTER at 3:02 PM

Lai

**littlewid** Wed Jun 09, 2010 8:59 pm

Thats wonderful news Lai, at last there is good news. This is one dedicated man who isn't going to give up on the elephants. You just know that these elephants are going t have a much better life and many more when it all comes together completely.
I wonder who he is going to see in Southampton, if it's an open meeting I would love to be there as it's only about an hour or so from where I live.

littlewid-x-

**Laikipia** Wed Jun 30, 2010 10:49 am

June 20, 2010
WARM AND COLD

These last times have been so strange. We thought we had a donator (a US Foundation) to save BASSANTE KALI and suddenly they decided to back out. Why ? Because they asked reference to a vet they use to support financially and I meet once in Nepal. The problem was: "is there a home for Bassante". The Vet who also is a partner of NTNC called them and was answered that nothing was sure, what she repeated very quickly. What I forgot to tell people from the Foundation (and of course the Vet) was that I had a home at my friend's Sharad who already has 3 elephants and takes care of them with caution ! I sent many emails to the Foundation telling we had a home for Bassante. They didn't change their mind as if they decided anyway not to donate... Suddenly, we went from a promess of 4500$ to NOTHING ! Who cared for Bassante Kali ? This has been a big shock for us here as we could not believe they would change their mind, we could not beleive either the Vet made such a negative " report" as she didn't know we had ordanized everything... We were about to stop our project. We are not here for glory, nor nor money, nor for our ego, but only to help and found the 1st elephant retreat centre in Nepal.
Katherine Connor and Carol Buckley found the good words to have me stand up again and fight as usual.

Since, we have gathered these 4,000$ from our friends on Facebook. Some have been extremely generous ! How generous can people be !

But we don't have sponsor so far... We look for help, we try to convince foundations. Apart Brigitte BARDOT, we feel we won'be helped until we have completely set up the centre.
It's as if they would tell "we'll give you money when you are rich ! ".

So we fight, we ask, we call, prepare brochures, and still ask for donations. We know helping old elephants will also help local people and we don't want to give up. Certainly not !

Lai

Safari Maiden Thu Mar 17, 2011 11:38 pm

Due to recent claims that there are question marks over the use of funds that have been donated so far to the ERC, a facebook group is examining the actions of Vincent Fragne/Elephant Retreat Centre. More background and details can be found on the Elephant Retreat Centre Warning Group at:

Elephant Retreat Centre Warning Group

**Laikipia** Fri Mar 18, 2011 8:07 am

I have been following this on FB and don't know what to make of it. If the funds have been misused then I am deeply disappointed. Thanks for putting up the link SM. I am going for a read now.

Lai

Safari Maiden Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:22 pm

Update - Extract from Carol Buckley's log on 21st March 2011:

Modi Prasad

Around this time last year, I met a man named Vincent in Sauraha, Nepal. We spoke over dinner, along with a table full of other people, about his plan to start an Elephant Retreat Center in Chitwan.

Over the following year, Vincent contacted me several times, asking for advice and funding. In my last communication I told Vincent that I was returning to Nepal and was looking forward to seeing the status of his project first-hand.

No one I spoke with in Chitwan knew anything about the Elephant Retreat Center. I finally located Sharad, the hotel owner alleged to be involved with the project. We had a long conversation and I am sorry to report what I learned.

Modi Prasad was sold to a buyer in India last month. My heart sank hearing the news. Sharad alleges that he contacted both Vincent and Mary to let them know of the pending sale but, according to him, never heard back from either.

In his blog on www.elephantretreatcenter.blogspot.com, Vincent announced that Modi Prasad would retire on October 17, 2010. On the ERC web site http://www.elephantcentre.org/Elephant_Retreat_Centre/Meet_Them/Meet_Them.html, a big red star announces that Modi Prasad is retired. Unfortunately for Modi, he has not been retired but instead was sold to yet another owner and shipped back to India.

**Laikipia** Tue Mar 22, 2011 1:36 pm

This is such sad news. Firstly for poor Modi, plenty of us have donated in good faith and it really makes me mad that such a thing can happen. It also makes you realise you cannot take everyone at face value which is a huge shame.

Lai

Safari Maiden Wed Mar 23, 2011 6:21 pm

It is very sad Lai cause the elephant have not been saved.

I personally think he is running, the website has been closed etc.

I dont think we have heard the last of this.

SM

**whitestarling** Wed Mar 23, 2011 10:31 pm

That sounds ominous SM. I think the best thing ERCw can do is to report it to the Fraud Squad
WS

**Laikipia** Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:44 am

So it has SM - just had a look. Sorry I havent replied on FB but I need to check how much I donated, tricky as I have changed banks and shredded a whole lot of stuff a few months ago. But I will try and find out.

I am so upset by this news, my faith in mankind gets less by the day, honestly some people are just *******
(for which put in anything you like )!

Lai

**whitestarling** Thu Mar 24, 2011 11:11 pm

I know exactly what I would put in Lai
WS

Safari Maiden Fri Mar 25, 2011 2:00 pm

It has been pointed out that having the thread on the forum may still direct people to donate and is another avenue of informing people about the centre.

What is your consensus?

Leave it as it is or remove it?

SM

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