A Future for Elephants in Black Ivory Coffee Inventory Control?
Jul 29, 2019 |
Our friend and elephant behavioral advisor, Dr. Joshua Plotnik -- Faculty of Department of Psychology of Hunter College, New York and President and Executive Director of Think Elephants International -- recently published the results of his studies to demonstrate that elephants have the ability to count. Incidentally, Josh, as an elephant psychologist and his wife, Sherry, represent the complete elephant wellness couple in that Sherry is an elephant veterinarian featured in an elephant inoculation in the film, POLO, For The Love of Elephants referenced below. Josh is shown here in one of his countless elephant encounters. Dr. Plotnik has a...
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The Creation of Elephant Polo
Aug 28, 2017 |
Where on earth would you come up with the idea for playing polo on elephants? Well, in a bar -- where else? Although it is believed that the maharajas in early India had ladies in their harems ride in sedan chairs on tops of elephants and take swats at polo balls, it was not the serious sport that it has become today. Moreover, the maharajas likely came up with the idea to keep the ladies amused and provide themselves brief respites from their own harem duties. It all came together in the winter of 1982 when Jim Edwards, owner of...
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News from Moo Baan Chang, Surin, Thailand
Jan 09, 2017 |
Several people have asked what is going on in our special village which caused us to prepare a brief update covering several topics. First of all, you should know that life is pretty peaceful there as the image below indicates-plenty of rain, great rice crop and, therefore, everything is "sabaay maak" (Thai for "tranquil" like your mind following meditation). The elephants can take a rest from farming and enjoy a special treat in an enhanced diet which will be covered below. Moreover, the elephants are prospering and adding offspring. Further, The Elephant Story together with The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant...
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Lauren De Terra's Report of Her Term as an English Teacher in Moo Ban Chang, Ban Ta Klang, Thailand
May 23, 2016 |
Seven months into my time in Thailand I find myself walking a gravel road. I look to my right and can see Burma and Laos. A young elephant extends her trunk, demanding more sunflower seeds. We continue to the Ruak River where I watch two elephants bathe, flapping their ears in happiness and spraying water on their backs to fight the April heat. I'm a volunteer at the elephant camp at Anantara Resort and Spa, located in the very north of Thailand. This past month I've met travelers from all over the world and helped them get up close and...
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Doug Bahr in the GTAEF Elephant Sanctuary
Mar 09, 2016 |
On November 24, 2014, we published a blog about The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, the elephant sanctuary located in the Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar come together, and their wonderful intern program to put people to work for room and board and offer them the opportunity to be with elephants. One day in Comfort, Texas, a young man by the name of Doug Bahr was in town to attend a wedding and happened to see the author on top of a stand behind The Elephant Story with a long mallet hitting polo balls in an attempt to...
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Elephants and Economics
Feb 15, 2016 |
This commentary was prompted by a recent article in the Nikkei Asian Review commenting on the ASEAN Economic Community Reality, which created a question in my mind as to the future of elephants in many of these countries in light of their economic development. First of all, the author would like to acknowledge Ele Aid for their vast contribution to an understanding of the elephant population and potential for their survival in Southeast Asia. Below is a ranking of certain ASEAN countries by their GDP and GDP per capita. There are several observations relative to the wealth of these countries...
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VIETNAM ERA JUNGLE FATIGUE JACKETS WITH VINTAGE HMONG FABRIC
Nov 18, 2014 |
From 1961 until April 1975, 125,000 Hmong Hill tribe people served in the CIA's secret war in Laos. Approximately 39,000 of them were killed in action. Following the end of the war, the Pathet Lao and Vietnamese advisors killed another 230,000 Hmong people.
The Elephant Story purchases vintage Hmong fabric in The Golden Triangle where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join and applies the vintage Hmong fabric to Vietnam era fatigue jackets in memory of these courageous fighters.
See the Collection
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The Adventures of Ed & Joey - October Golden Triangle Visit
Nov 17, 2014 |
October Golden Triangle Visit Written by: Ed Story Joey and I were recently up at the Golden Triangle for a stay at our home there, The Four Seasons Tented Camp. Apart from being our physical home in The Golden Triangle all of our friends there ensure that we feel at home there. We had the opportunity to play some elephant polo but before we come to that I wanted to touch on a couple of wonderful things going on in that part of the world. I had the opportunity to have breakfast with Joshua Plotnik,...
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A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART IV
Nov 14, 2014 |
THE ELEPHANT STORY FINAL MATCH AGAINST SARA STORY DESIGN IN THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT, BANGKOK, THAILAND Written by: Ed Story Our final match, or penalty shootout, was against a team that is very near and dear to me, that of my daughter Sara Story. Although each team had only lost one match by one point against the top two teams in the tournament while disregarding handicaps favoring each of us, we faced off for fifth and sixth place. Had we played our respective matches against the finalists, either one of us could have been...
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A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART III
Nov 13, 2014 |
THIRD DAY OF PLAY AT THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT BANGKOK THAILAND Written by: Ed Story The third day of play opened to sunny skies that followed a torrential downpour the night before. As everyone wanted to play an actual match, the only solution seemed to be the sand pit covered polo practice area used by horse polo players. All the various equipment in storage was moved outside of the arena and crude goals and markers were installed. Unfortunately, the elephants could not overcome their childhood days of playing soccer and chose every opportunity to kick...
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A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART II
Nov 12, 2014 |
SECOND DAY OF PLAY AT THE KING'S CUP 2014 ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT BANGKOK THAILAND Written by: Ed Story The foremost objective of the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament is to ensure the safety of the elephants during the course of the tournament. Moreover, a qualified veterinarian is on duty at all times. Of secondary importance is raising funds for elephant conservation. The individual with ultimate responsibility for this task is John Roberts, Director of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation, whose watchful eye is constantly on the polo pitch. John concluded that the field was not stable...
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A RETROSPECTIVE OF THE 2014 KING'S CUP ELEPHANT POLO TOURNAMENT - PART I
Nov 11, 2014 |
The Elephant Story team of Comfort, Texas competing against the world's top elephant polo teams Written by: Ed Story The King’s Cup Elephant Polo tournament has become an annual event in Thailand held in honor of His Majesty the King and to raise funds for elephant conservation. This year it was held at the VR Sports Club in Bangkok. Sixteen teams from as many as thirty countries participated in this unusual sporting event. The first day was devoted to practice and offered many old friends the opportunity to reunite since the past year. While practicing, the handicapping committee...
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Hill Country Shop sells coffee made with the help of elephants - San Antonio Magazine
Nov 10, 2014 |
A special thanks to San Antonio Magazine for such a beautiful write up! The Elephant Story BY NIKO MEDRANO PHOTO COURTESY THE ELEPHANT STORY Elephants don’t typically come up in conversations about coffee, but in Thailand and the Maldives, the large animal is the key to a brand of coffee served in five-star hotels. Now, Texans can have a taste of exclusive Black Ivory Coffee thanks to the Hill Country shop, The Elephant Story. Husband and wife Ed and Joey Story founded the store in Comfort in 2012. Filled with apparel and gifts, many of which are...
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HOLIDAY MEN’S FORMAL WEAR IN ELEPHANT COUNTRY
Oct 14, 2014 |
If you do not have a set of elephant formal studs and cuff links, The Elephant Story had these commissioned by Lin’s Jewelers, a well-known silversmith in Thailand. Other places may have similar things, but do their proceeds support elephant conservation like this product?
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CLINT ORMS BELT BUCKLES AND MONEY CLIPS
Oct 13, 2014 |
Although you may not be an elephant polo player, you can support the Comfort based Elephant Story team by wearing one of Clint Orms designed buckles. Clint is internationally recognized as a leading silver smith artist. It is only appropriate that an Ingram, Texas artisan is supporting the only elephant polo store in the world.
Clint has also produced a buckle of elephants in the distance and an elephant money clip if you would prefer a more natural surrounding.
...
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AN ELEPHANT WAS ASKED TO LOOK INTO A MIRROR | Science Channel
Oct 13, 2014 |
We have known Dr. Joshua Plotnik for a number of years. Over that period of time, he has been conducting a research project in The Golden Triangle of Thailand, where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join, studying elephants to reach conclusions regarding the intelligence, cognitive ability and empathy that these wonderful creatures have. The attached video is one example of his work.
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CAROL CASSIDY WEAVES OF CAMBODIA RAINBOW SILK SCARVES
Oct 10, 2014 |
Carol Cassidy is a world-renown artist and silk weaver who inspires and trains silk artisans in rural areas to weave spectacular products. In Preah Vihear, Cambodia, she has taken a group of Cambodian land mine survivors and taught them to make stunning silk scarves. At the same time, she has enabled them to have a self-sustaining livelihood following the years of warfare and destruction these people faced.
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Carol Cassidy is a world-renown artist and silk weaver who inspires and trains silk artisans in rural areas to weave spectacular products. In Preah Vihear, Cambodia, she has taken a group of Cambodian land mine survivors and taught them to make stunning silk scarves. At the same time, she has enabled them to have a self-sustaining livelihood following the years of warfare and destruction these people faced.
Join our Email List!
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SAK YANT NEEDLES AND SHIRTS
Oct 09, 2014 |
Sak yants are an ancient spiritual art in Thailand and Myanmar where Pali Sanskrit blessings are tattooed on one’s body using tapping needles. The blessings are to ward off evil, invite prosperity to the person or wish health and happiness to others and make merit in the process. The image below shows Khun Ed of The Elephant Story having a Haa Taew (five line) sak yant applied to his back by the famous Thai spiritualist to the stars, Archan Noo.
The Elephant Story outfits the elephant mahouts in The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament each year with sak yant T-shirts to wish them well and make merit.
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Sak yants are an ancient spiritual art in Thailand and Myanmar where Pali Sanskrit blessings are tattooed on one’s body using tapping needles. The blessings are to ward off evil, invite prosperity to the person or wish health and happiness to others and make merit in the process. The image below shows Khun Ed of The Elephant Story having a Haa Taew (five line) sak yant applied to his back by the famous Thai spiritualist to the stars, Archan Noo.
The Elephant Story outfits the elephant mahouts in The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament each year with sak...
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HMONG HAND MADE STUFFED ELEPHANTS
Oct 08, 2014 |
The Hmong Hill Tribe People of northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam may be best known for their role in the CIA secret war in Laos during the Vietnam war era where they fought overwhelming North Vietnamese forces resulting in vast casualties for their people. Following the war, most of them fled to northern Thailand. Apart from that tragic historical moment, they are known for their colorful hand made fabric.
These vintage fabrics have been crafted into stuffed elephant figures of varying sizes and colors. Elephants were always revered by the Hmong people and represent a cornerstone of their culture. Profits from the sale of these elephants will be directed to Asian elephant conservation.
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The Hmong Hill Tribe People of northern Thailand, Laos and Vietnam may be best known for their role in the CIA secret war in Laos during the Vietnam war era where they fought overwhelming North Vietnamese forces resulting in vast casualties for their people. Following the war, most of them fled to northern Thailand. Apart from that tragic historical moment, they are known for their colorful hand made fabric.
These vintage fabrics have been crafted into stuffed elephant figures of varying sizes and colors. Elephants were always revered by the Hmong people and represent a cornerstone of their...
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CAROL STEVENSON BAGS
Oct 06, 2014 |
Carol Stevenson, the world-renown elephant whisperer and photographer of Asian elephants, has commissioned a series of handbags with her elephant images. The elephants reside in The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) conservation center in northern Thailand where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join. These elephants and their mahout owners and families were brought there from major cities in Thailand where they walked the streets and begged for food.
The objective of the GTAEF is to return domesticated elephants to a natural habitat. At this time, there are some thirty-five elephants in the conservation center. Carol’s bags consist of two different sized makeup bags and a messenger bag.
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Carol Stevenson, the world-renown elephant whisperer and photographer of Asian elephants, has commissioned a series of handbags with her elephant images. The elephants reside in The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) conservation center in northern Thailand where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar join. These elephants and their mahout owners and families were brought there from major cities in Thailand where they walked the streets and begged for food.
The objective of the GTAEF is to return domesticated elephants to a natural habitat. At this time, there are some thirty-five elephants in the conservation center. Carol’s bags consist of two different...
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