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Recent Press
See a live view of the elephant camp.
(Thailand Time)
Wine Spectator Press
View an interview with Perry Butler about the Asian Elephants
Read about how the Butlers got involved with the Rescue program at Elerescue.org.
Italian Shoes, Napa Cabernets and Asian Elephants
Italian Shoes, Napa Cabernets and Asian Elephants:
A perfectly logical combination!
Purchase Wine
Golden Triangle, March 2007: What could designer shoes, a highly rated boutique wine and Asian Elephants possibly have in common? The answer is a lot if you ask Napa Valley vintners, Carolyn and Perry Butler.
When Carolyn and Perry visited Four Seasons Tented Camp last fall they immediately fell in love with the resident adopted elephants and were looking for ways to contribute to the Camp's charity project. The Tented Camp forms one part of the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant foundation (GTAEF) which aims to rescue elephants off the streets of Thailand and provide them with a humane and natural environment in the jungles of the Golden Triangle.
'Carolyn and I watched a mother elephant and her baby weaving in and out of traffic on the streets of Bangkok with their mahout begging for money so they could all eat .The Elephants were under nourished and stressed. We could not stand to see these gentle giants and their families in such poverty .We decided to help, getting them all off the street and to a camp where they would be treated with respect and love.' Perry said.
Not satisfied with a straight forward donation, Perry decided to introduce a special Juslyn Vineyard 'Rescue' label in support of the Foundation. The 2008 "Rescue" is a rich blend of 46% Cabernet Franc, 35% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1% Petit Verdot from our Spring Mountain Estate. Only 140 cases were produced, 100% of sales profits will benefit GTAEF.
Carolyn took her idea literally a step further and persuaded Italian designer Cesare Casadei to create an exclusive design for a select female clientele. This sexy peep-toe patent leather d'orsay pump with a black and white animal print comes with a 3.5 inch red heel and is presented in a unique 'Elephant Rescue' box. Again, all proceeds are being donated to the GTAEF rescue mission, specifically towards the upkeep of the Butler's adopted baby elephant Nam Chok, a four year old who has become the adoptive surrogate sister for another five months old baby Tong Suk. The shoe can be purchased at any Footcandy store in California or shipped worldwide.
Asian elephants played an important cultural and economic role for centuries and once provided the main workforce in the teak forests of Northern Thailand. With the cutbacks in teak foresting, elephants were no longer needed and consequently became a burden to their owners. Many elephant owners resort to taking their charges into big cities to get people to pay to touch, feed or play with their elephant.
Elephant Family (UK) and Friends of Conservation (US) registered charities have added the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to their list of supported projects and tax deductible contributions can be submitted through these aid organizations.
For information about the elephant rescue programs in Northern Thailand please visit www.elephantfamily.org
and
http://news.helpingelephants.org
or contact John Roberts at Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
jroberts@minornet.com
View an interview with Perry Butler about the Asian Elephants
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