WHO
WE ARE
MISSION & HISTORY.
The foundation stones of Stand Up 4 Elephants were laid in 2014 after separate visits by two of the founders to the Chitwan region, where they were shocked by the sub-standard conditions and unacceptable treatment the local captive Asian elephants were forced to endure in the tourism industry. From that first visit, the founders began engaging with elephant owners in the region, offering free care and treatments to the elephants and support for mahouts (elephant caretakers).
SU4E non-profit organization was established officially in 2018. The organization engages directly with the local community, aiming to demonstrate alternative & sustainable ways of looking after elephants. The objective is to bring about a change in perspective with respect to ownership and use of elephants, including the abolition of particularly cruel practices.
SU4E team - Founders.
Michael Bailey
Co-founder PR
Michael Bailey is settled in Chitwan, where he assists Floriane on a daily basis running the HOME while also managing the communication actions of the NGO (social media, website, tourist education, visits) and the dealings with the local administration, third parties, etc.
Floriane Blot
Co-founder Executive Director
Floriane Blot is a specialized elephant zookeeper / trainer and veterinary technician who has relocated since 2014 to Chitwan, Nepal so as to be able to dedicate herself to the elephants’ welfare on a full time basis. media, website, tourist education, visits) and the dealings with the local administration, third parties, etc.
Annik Lambert
Co-founder Secretary
Annik Lambert, a lawyer, travels between Belgium and Nepal, and takes care of the legal / official work as well as of public relationships.
On site staff.
-
Vicky Shah Thakuri : Manager SU4E Home
-
Sweta Shrestha : Manager awareness and education program
-
5 mahouts :
-
Kushbu
-
Alam
-
Jamuna
-
Ram
-
Suk Bahadur
-
Ravi Chaudary : Professional naturalist guide
External support .
-
Accounting & auditing (Belgium) Current - Qualified accountant
-
Lawyer (Belgium) Current - Qualified Lawyer (Founder)
-
Lawyer (Nepal) - Qualified lawyer
-
Growth Strategy Consultant Current - Qualified consultant
-
Team of 4 veterinarians and one elephant behaviorist (Nepal, India, France, US)
Advisory Board.
Rosemary Moigno
Wildlife Veterinarian - France
Rosemary Moigno is a senior wildlife veterinarian at the Pal Zoo for more than 10 years. She is in charge of the Le Pal Nature Foundation, which helps associations for the protection of flora and fauna around the world. Since the start of the creation of SU4E, she has always made herself available to advise the team on site.
Rinku Gohain
Wildlife Veterinarian - India
Dr. Rinku Gohain is the founder CEO and Principal Veterinarian of ‘Airavat Foundation for Wildlife Conservation’. An elephant veterinarian from Assam, India who acquired both his Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Master in Veterinary Surgery and Radiology degrees from the College of Veterinary Science, Assam Agricultural University, India.
Chrissy Pratt
Founder of Elephation.org
Chrissy Pratt has been an animal trainer and behaviorist for 18 years. She has worked with a variety of animals, and has consulted with elephant organizations all over the world, including Save Elephant Foundation, Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary, and Burm and Emily’s Elephant Sanctuary in Thailand; Wild is Life/Zimbabwe Elephant Nursery in Zimbabwe; Tiger Tops Elephant Camp and Stand Up 4 Elephants in Nepal; Pakke Tiger Reserve in India; and Life in Oozie Village Ecohut/Myanmar Timber Enterprise in Myanmar.
Michelle Niehoff Szydlowski
Instructor in Anthrozoology
Michelle Szydlowski is an educator and researcher specializing in pachyderm-human relationships and pachyderm welfare. Active in Nepal since 2012, her work focuses on the welfare of captive elephants and how community members, local organizations and international NGOs impact both captive individuals and wild populations. SU4E, and especially Eva, served as an ideal cynosure for this research.
Michelle’s other interests include mahout welfare, community-based conservation, environmental education, sustainable development, one-world/one-health initiatives and the effects of ecotourism on conservation and communities. Michelle teaches Anthrozoology at Beacon College in Florida, and recently launched an informational website on pachyderms and related research at internationalelephants.org.
Danielle Carnahan
Conservationist
Danielle Carnahan is a wildlife conservationist and researcher specializing in Asian elephant welfare. After earning her master’s degree in conservation medicine, she went on to research the psychological impacts of captivity on Asian elephants. With this, she determined the prevalence and management implications of complex post-traumatic stress disorder in a group of captive elephants in Thailand. With a focus on stress and psychological health, Danielle continues to advise us and share knowledge on how to alleviate any stressors to maintain the highest level of welfare possible at the Stand Up 4 Elephants Home.
