"Elephant Whisperers" from the Bangkok Post, Jan 14, 2010

For centuries, elephants have been a crucial part of the lives of the Kui people in the northeastern province of Surin, whose expertise in catching and taming them has been passed on by their ancestors 

 see full article at    

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/travelscoop/31002/elephant-whisperers

Elephant Painting Update October 2009

l to r: Damnoen Surang u-patham mahout (handler) to Elephant Artist Kham Tool, Elephant-Paintings.com owner Scott Rosenberg and Nopawan Komyoung of Maetaman Elephant Camp and E.L.E. (Elephant Life Experience)

My assistant Chaiwat and I traveled around to some of the elephant camps last week to see how they were fairing in the economic downturn AND of course to stock up on elephant paintings for the up-coming holiday season.

We didn't find much new in the way of designs but we did find advanced use of colors and at Maetaman, they have gone "green" setting up a small factory that produces elephant dung paper for their Elephant Artists to paint on.

What was unusual, at the Ayuthaya Royal Elephant Kraal, which used to have their elephant paintings on dung paper, have gone back to using regular poster board. Apparently the Australian Agricultural Department has not cleared dung paper for import and most of the guests to the Ayuthaya Kraal are from Australia.

Another interesting note, back in August 2009 a team shooting for National Geographic was at Maetaman doing a special on Elephant Artist Hong painting her self-portraits. The special has yet to air on the National Geographic Channel but you can be sure when it does, it will spark a renewed interest in Hong's paintings (of which we have several in stock).

We have had to increase our prices slightly to meet international market demand on the Hong paintings however we are still less expensive then elsewhere on-line. However, the Hong paintings still appreciate in value.

Overall traffic is down a bit at the camps - a result of fewer tourists traveling becasue of the recession but overall we are told business is not that bad.

Which, as you can see from the short video below is good - since it only takes banas to run an elephant camp.

Visit us at www.Elephant-Paintings.com

OH, so that is what that Email was

Back in July I received an email from Anchalee Kalmapijit with a short "blurb" and three pictures of a two basketball teams from Montfort College. I noticed that Khun Anchalee was the president of the Club but she is best known for her elephant care than for her basketball ability.

However, when speaking with Ms. Nopawan Komyoung, Secretary of the Montfort College Basketball Club at the Maetaman Elephant Camp last week, it all became clear, Khun Anchalee's son plays on the team which had just won top honors in the Thailand Northern Region "Sponsor Thailand Championship 2009", held 14-22 July.

The Montford team represented the Northern Region at the Thailand National Championship in Bangkok in September 2009. No word on who one that championship.

Word is that the Montfort cheerleading team picked up the Best Creative Award back in July as well.

Now I wonder of Khun Anchalee had her elephants out there cheering.....hmmmmm!!!

Nick Cassavetes sues over Elephant Orphanage

A nasty little lawsuit filed by director Nick Cassavetes, accuses New Line Cinema of fraud and breach of contract, saying the studio fired him from directing the elephant orphanage drama, "Peaceable Kingdom." According to Variety's Dave McNary, the director filed suit earlier this week in Los Angeles Superior Court, saying he was never paid for a rewrite he did of the script. He's also seeking damages for other work he says he passed up while working on "Kingdom."

New Line got involved in "Peaceable Kingdom" after "60 Minutes" aired a report in April 2006 by Bob Simon about Dame Daphne Sheldrick, a Kenyan-born woman who has devoted her life to helping raise and rehabilitate orphaned wild animals, in particular elephants.

The "60 Minutes" piece follows:


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