Baby Elephant Needs Help

Me quoting an email from Bert from The Serengheti Foundation, quoting Lek who is at the Surin Elephant Roundup right now (with Jeff! He's back in Thailand!!).
Now... from Bert...

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Hello,

Many of you have asked me over the years to contact you as soon as viable elephant adoption/purchase situations arise. Though Lek "gets close" quite often, actual rescue opportunities are rare. Except for today....

We received the following urgent email from Lek

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EMAIL QUOTE:

Dearest Bert
Hello from Lek. I am now at the Elephant city at Surin province. Every year they have the elephant round up as the elephant show to the tourist who come from all over around the world. Every year I come to check for the elephant situation and looking the needed elephant that needs to rescue.
Yesterday I found one . She is the little baby elephant who look so stressed and the mahout abused her even in front of the tourist. she screaming over and over and he beaten her and force her to performing. We have the camera to film standing so upset all with chains. And one of my volunteer help me to send the picture to you.
You can look from the wesbite below
http://buggytrapoo.multiply.com/video/item/8/Faa_Sai_in_Surin_Elephant_Round-Up

We ask to buy her, Her both eyes going to be blind. Her stressed in the dangerous level.
The owner ask for 650,000 Baht. The volunteer who came with me they start to collect the money from the group but we need much more to purchase her. Please help us fro the rest. We need to rescued her very soon.

Love

Lek

END EMAIL QUOTE
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OK then - it doesn't get alot more cut and dry than that. Over the years I have learned that when Lek is in fear that an elephant is in a dire situation, it is the truth. The elephant is in a critical state. We need your help, and we need it right away. We need to raise about $22,000 to purchase this elephant as soon as possible. As always, 100% of all funds donated will be forwarded to Lek (funds will be sent over on Monday 11/19/07 by Intl wire). Serengeti Foundation takes no salaries, fees, anything, and covers all international wiring fees, so every single penny gets forwarded to her. To donate, there are two options:

1. donate online via PayPal. It's easy, at SerengetiUSA.com. The funds arrive quickly, and you get airlines miles so you can go visit Lek !! :-)
http://www.serengetiusa.com/serengetiusa/donation.htm

2. you can send us a check at: Serengeti Foundation - 19100 Hamilton Pool Rd - Dripping Springs, TX 78620.
If you are sending a check, can you please drop me a short email indicating this, so I know it's coming? We'll be fronting those funds to Lek in the wire on Monday.

I hope to hear from many of you - let's make this happen!!! She is counting on us......

Best to you all,
Bert von Roemer
President - Serengeti Foundation

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Ok, now back to Beth. Just putting the word out there. The video takes a while to load but it's pretty sad to watch once it works.

Love you all!

-Beth