<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Voice for Asian Elephants Society (VFAES)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Voice for Asian Elephants Society (VFAES) works to protecting endangered Asian elephants, both captive and wild. ]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Mon, 10 Aug 2026 02:20:56 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.vfaes.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Saving Odisha Elephants from Human-Induced Fires​​​​​]]></title><description><![CDATA[Summary Odisha's forests that elephants call home, are fighting for survival. More than 94,000 hectares have burned in the past decade, and nearly 1,000 elephants have died in just 11 years. Yet tribal families depend on the fallen Mahua flower, a vital source of food, medicine, and income. Our innovative Mahua nets will help them collect more flowers without burning forests, preventing wildfires, protecting elephant habitat, and creating sustainable livelihoods for communities. A true...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/saving-odisha-elephants-from-human-induced-fires</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a6075425514a6e974a74f83</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:47:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_35b890fb5f7242469145fda7e4ba1354~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lakshmi: Worshipped as Sacred, Treated as Disposable]]></title><description><![CDATA[Back in December 2013, I met Lakshmi—and in ways I still struggle to explain, she met me too. She is rare among temple elephants, one of the few females held in captivity, and from the moment I saw her tethered and alone, something in me broke open. There was a familiarity in her loneliness. A recognition. We are all, in some way, bound by inherited beliefs and cultural codes—but Lakshmi’s captivity was literal, heavy, and unrelenting. She reached out to me with her trunk, a gentle,...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/lakshmi-worshipped-as-sacred-treated-as-disposable</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69970218b8ed19d28372e383</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_206e53e8d5fe446580e69315c6a77496~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_923,h_662,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Honouring Ganesha: A call for compassion this Ganesh Chaturthi ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Click the image to read the full article As millions across India prepare to celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi, homes and temples will echo with...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/honouring-ganesha-a-call-for-compassion-this-ganesh-chaturthi</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68ae303b29182256bcbf60a1</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:08:36 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_facc7c09201649259c8c15b9bd2be70c~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_900,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Silent Storm: How AI is Quietly Rewriting India’s Destiny]]></title><description><![CDATA[We must ask ourselves: What kind of society are we building? One where voices are real but hearts are absent? One where machines simulate...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/the-silent-storm-how-ai-is-quietly-rewriting-india-s-destiny</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682dd7cbbc5e4bf8ae94148f</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 18 May 2025 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_47112e4f1bce49a3a3d4f4c897670dd0~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_675,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[A Life Lost, a Future Saved: How AI is Protecting Elephants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most powerful tools ever created by humanity. Conceived in 1956 at the Dartmouth Conference by...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/a-life-lost-a-future-saved-how-ai-is-protecting-elephants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682dd875f1f18e441cf0d92a</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 15 Apr 2025 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_d2473b258f36471498140b03c34ddf1a~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_675,h_450,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[For The Love Of Elephants: 5 Indians Who Dedicated Their Lives To Fight Poachers]]></title><description><![CDATA[https://thebetterindia.com/web-stories/indians-active-in-elephant-preservation-safety-from-wildlife-poaching/]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/for-the-love-of-elephants-5-indians-who-dedicated-their-lives-to-fight-poachers</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67f67b9b2ced550cf806d83a</guid><category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 09 Apr 2025 13:54:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_92bdfc1cd3114f52b1d5a5fd742747f0~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beyond the Celebrations of Womanhood: What Must Be Done?]]></title><description><![CDATA[As we observe Women’s History Month, women are celebrated with flowers, social media tributes, and lofty promises of empowerment. But...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/beyond-the-celebrations-of-womanhood-what-must-be-done</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682dd8ebac60034d4b3ed9ed</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 16 Mar 2025 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_ca1e8b346e6e4bb6a0e24837bf9a7a2d~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_790,h_527,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why is restoring the balance of feminine and masculine energy crucial for survival of humanity? ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The unchecked rise of male dominance threatens balance; restoring harmony requires embracing the feminine principle. Across the world, an...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/why-is-restoring-the-balance-of-feminine-and-masculine-energy-crucial-for-survival-of-humanity</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682dd65f851da32bb664adff</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 12 Feb 2025 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_1049ffc779424b469ca04c28aea74a59~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_900,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Uncovering the Shared Struggles of Women and Elephants: An Ecofeminist Perspective]]></title><description><![CDATA[Ecofeminism links the struggles of women, Earth, and elephants, urging action for healing and sustainability. There is poignant poetry in...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/uncovering-the-shared-struggles-of-women-and-elephants-an-ecofeminist-perspective</link><guid isPermaLink="false">682dd6fc4711240b743c1f60</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 14 Jan 2025 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_8710376a28af479b96c62cff753c83db~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_900,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Progress or Plunder? The Industrial Revolution's destructive legacy for wildlife and elephants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Click the image to read the full article The Industrial Revolution, a pivotal chapter in human history, began in the late 18th century in...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/progress-or-plunder-the-industrial-revolution-s-destructive-legacy-for-wildlife-and-elephants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67f66e7afece5ced8d6a55ee</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 14 Dec 2024 13:09:53 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_0930e51485d3448e9af10d101c9d3478~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_900,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sentient Beings: Elephants, not Machines]]></title><description><![CDATA[Did the Scientific Revolution, the dawn of human knowledge and exploration, unintentionally lead us to misunderstand the true nature of...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/sentient-beings-elephants-not-machines</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6759fc942e71659e80e61393</guid><category><![CDATA[Our Blogs]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 24 Nov 2024 05:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_c6f05a3c19794c8eae8c64c4a0106e46~mv2.webp/v1/fit/w_900,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Pioneering Conservation Efforts for India’s Elephants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Click the image to read the full article Sangita Iyer is an internationally acclaimed environmental educator, journalist, and filmmaker...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/sangita-iyer-pioneering-conservation-efforts-for-india-s-elephants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6759f6901dab7454017a3018</guid><category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 13 Nov 2024 20:36:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_a580379a8244402c8a58a8e786f12dd4~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Securing and Rewilding Corridors for Odisha Elephants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Odisha’s forests, once lush sanctuaries for elephants, are now vanishing under the relentless pressures of development, leaving these gentle giants with nowhere to turn. Wildfires, mostly induced by reckless human actions, are also ravaging the forests, with climate change only exacerbating the devastation, leaving the elephants homeless and desolate. Starving and desperate, elephants are forced to risk their lives crossing treacherous highways, seeking food and water in villages and...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/securing-and-rewilding-corridors-for-odisha-elephants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67115460a02ded43bd560ea8</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 22 Oct 2024 10:05:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/053446_f44764189e114093b1b51d472ceaed9c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_997,h_748,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Protecting elephants with cutting-edge technology and restoring hope for their future]]></title><description><![CDATA[National Geographic Explorer: Sangita Iyer reveals how AI and robotics can transform the future of elephant conservation. Click the image...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/national-geographic-protecting-elephants-with-cutting-edge-technology-and-restoring-hope-for-their</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67115460a02ded43bd560ea6</guid><category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:40:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_19411e13da8443a0bdb0a1136fbacecd~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_788,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Robotic Elephants: Ending Elephant Captivity]]></title><description><![CDATA[Following the incredible success of our first robotic elephant in Tamil Nadu, Voices for Asian Elephants is thrilled to launch our second robotic elephant at a renowned temple in Kerala. This inspiring shift is gaining momentum, as more temples embrace robotic elephants for their processions, sparing live elephants from unimaginable suffering. These majestic creations not only preserve tradition but also ensure the safety of devotees, preventing the tragic stampedes that have claimed human...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/robotic-elephants-ending-elephant-captivity</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67191b0b78b5a378332a4008</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 21 Oct 2024 04:00:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://video.wixstatic.com/video/2cfa2c_395d6ec7b22942bb830c2075f7519e0b/1080p/mp4/file.mp4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Teaching systems thinking to protect wildlife: a pilot study in West Bengal’s secondary schools]]></title><description><![CDATA[A groundbreaking two-year study in West Bengal demonstrates that nature-based, systems-thinking education can profoundly transform how young people understand and protect wildlife. Led by filmmaker and educator Sangita Iyer and published in Frontiers Ethology, the research challenges conventional memorization-based learning, which often fails to address complex ecological issues like human–elephant conflict. The study introduced a curriculum titled Elephants and People in schools located...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/teaching-systems-thinking-to-protect-wildlife</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e4e0588e63193b95d04731</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><category><![CDATA[In the Press]]></category><pubDate>Sun, 20 Oct 2024 12:00:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_b7518ff068244befb8f5506d3c906a6a~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Securing Forestland to Rehabilitate Thailand’s Tourism Elephants]]></title><description><![CDATA[Across Southeast Asia, countless elephants once used in tourism endure lives of control, confinement, and hardship. Many are separated from their families, subjected to harsh training, and denied the freedom that is essential to their well-being. But there is another path. At Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) in Northern Thailand, rescued elephants are given the chance to begin again. Here, they are not forced to perform or interact. There are no rides, no chains, and no commands—only...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/securing-forestland-to-rehabilitate-thailand-tourism-elephants</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ddbb5bc31b00fb8515df8e</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 2024 18:30:00 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/7b5983_b13afa3d117d40ee81951255d79a4a15~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[EleSense: Saving Elephants from Deadly Train Tracks]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Problem: Unsustainable development including railway tracks and roads that cut through core habitats are a major cause of elephant deaths. Every year 50-75 elephants die in train collisions across India. Speed restrictions are enforced inside protected areas but not outside where most accidents occur. VFAE is collaborating with SNAP Foundation and Nature Mates, piloting an early warning system to alert train drivers of elephant presence, with enough time for the speeding train to stop....]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/elesense-saving-elephants-from-deadly-train-tracks</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67115460a02ded43bd560ea9</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 2024 10:20:31 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://video.wixstatic.com/video/053446_0b7974ca47cc4019b23d4f786dcfb93f/360p/mp4/file.mp4" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Flash the Light to Save the Elephants of India]]></title><description><![CDATA[This project aims to create safe shared spaces for people and elephants, using science based solutions. In West Bengal state, India, human and elephant deaths are alarmingly high at approx. 40 people and six elephants per year. Research suggests, accidental encounters occur at night as people run into elephants, resulting in human casualties and animosity towards elephants. Tragedies can be averted using basic safety practices, Eg: flashlights in the dark to alert elephants of human presence....]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/flash-the-light-to-save-the-elephants-of-india</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67115460a02ded43bd560eaf</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 2024 08:40:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/053446_911a6cbf93734c6fa7db9b897585fcca~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Securing and Rewilding Elephant Corridors in Kerala ]]></title><description><![CDATA[Updates VFAES purchased four acres of land from private owners inside the Nilambur forest of Kerala and handed it over the Kerala Forest Department for rewilding. The land, which had been converted to a plantation, is surrounded by reserve forest, a key habitat for a variety of wildlife, including elephants, tigers, and leopards. The area also forms part of the Nilambur Elephant Reserve and houses around 340 elephants. VFAES is now awaiting court documents enabling VFAES to transfer the land...]]></description><link>https://www.vfaes.org/post/securing-and-rewilding-elephant-corridors-in-kerala</link><guid isPermaLink="false">67115460a02ded43bd560eaa</guid><category><![CDATA[Projects]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 19 Oct 2024 07:13:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/053446_984bf1748f0e488697a3b5cbb4a0ed48~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_749,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Sangita Iyer</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>