WHAT'S NEXT

Retire Sombo Ban Elephants in Phnom Pehn
  1. Signatures
    4,165 out of 5,000
    Petitioning
    1. Governor of Phnom Penh (+ 4 others)
      Petitioning
      close
      • Governor of Phnom Penh (H.E Kep Chuk Tema)
      • Governor of Phnom Penh (H.E Kep Chuk Tema)
      • Royal Delegate in Charge of Director General of Forestry Administration (H.E Cheng Kimsun)
      • Minister of Tourism (H.E Dr. Thong Khon)
      • Secretary of State: Directorate of Museums and Directorate of Heritage (H.E. Chuch Phoeurn)
  2. Created By
    Judith Price
    North Adelaide, Australia
About this Petition Petition Letter Petition Updates
How We Won

Jan 30, 2012

Louise Rogerson, of Elephants Asia Rescue and Survival (EARS) has worked long and hard to have 51 year old elephant, Sombo retired from service for elephant back rides. Sombo, who is well known as the only street elephant at the temple in Phnom Pehn, has suffered from abcesses in all four feet, and her condition has been deteriorating. Following months of negotiations with Sombo's owners and the officials of the Forestry Administration - Sombo was walked from the city at 4am on 30 January 2012 to a newly acquired piece of land outside of the city. Sombo will receive the rest and veterinary care she so desperately needs. EARS has committed to pay for her veterinary and ongoing care and you can help!

Negotiations continue in regards to banning elephants in Phnom Penh, but it is looking favourable.

With much thanks to Change.org petitioners, letter writers and campaigners and Louise Rogerson for her tireless efforts to have Sombo receive the proper care and attention she needs.


Jude Price
Founder - Elephant Ectivism - For Elephants

Sombo is a 51 year old, female elephant, living a solitary life in the city of Phnom Penh for the last 30 years. She walks a 4km round trip from her living area behind a casino to Wat Phnom temple. Sombo stands at the temple up to 9 hours a day, 4 days a week, with a heavy chair on her back and gives rides to tourists. This poor elephant has appalling feet, and limps due to a painful abscess and overgrown toenails that have been neglected due to her owners greed for money.

On Sat 29th October 2011, EARS funded and supported the entire medical examination for Sombo. Her owners were eager for us to examine their elephant due to her foot condition.

Dr Paolo Martelli, DMV (liege), CertZooMed (RCVS), Chief Veterinarian, Ocean Park, Hong Kong, flew to Phnom Penh to issue a full medical report. His conclusion states that she is painfully lame as a result of pododermatitis, osteitis, ostoelysis, deep sepsis and other lesions. Furthermore, if the lameness is not improved drastically it will lead to degeneration of all joints in all limbs. This will result in an incapacitated animal. The main reason explaining the limb lesions is the lifestyle of the animal which involves walking on hard ground, and walking on hard ground on damaged feet.

SOMBO NEEDS URGENT TREATMENT - Her owners are sadly putting the tourist dollar before their elephant’s health.

EARS will fund the entire medical treatment if this elephant is retired. We are unable to treat her whilst she still walks on hard ground as advised by the vet.

We need YOUR help. We need you to voice your concern by signing this petition to the authorities in Cambodia. Then please share the petition widely on twitter, via facebook, by email and Change.org channels. We must be her voice.

For Sombo Elephant!

For more information about Sombo and how you can assist please visit: www.earsasia.org or www.elephantectivism.org 

Why People Are Signing
Recent Signatures

Please, Retire Sombo and Ban Elephant Tourism

Dear Messers Tema, Kimsun, Khon and Phoeurn

Retire Sombo and Ban Elephant Tourism

As a concerned individual, I am writing to you today to appeal for your immediate intervention in a situation that is affecting the wellbeing of a treasured national icon, Sombo, an Asian Elephant owned by Mr Sin Sorn. Her health has deteriorated and she urgently needs your assistance. You have the power to assist her, for her sake and for Cambodia’s reputation, please help.

I know you have received many letters from concerned people both Cambodian nationals and international individuals, just like me, and from elephant rescue and welfare organisations asking that Sombo be retired from tourism service. I wish to add my voice to the international and national call for Sombo’s retirement and a permanent ban of the use of Elephants as tourist attractions in Phnom Penh.

Elephant Asia Rescue and Survival Foundtion (EARS) recently at their own cost had Sombo assessed by a highly qualified veterinarian Dr Paolo Martelli, DMV (liege), CertZooMed (RCVS), Chief Veterinarian, Ocean Park, Hong Kong and his reccomendations are that Sombo requires immediate and intensive veterinary treatment for the absess in her foot, and to improve her overall condition. Elephants Asia Rescue and Survival Foundation (EARS) have paid for this highly qualified assessment and are willing to pay for her treatment but she must be retired permanently from active service in the tourism industry for the treatment to be effective.

For Sombo’s sake, please order her retirement, and for all future elephants sake – please permenantly ban elephants in tourism in the city of Phnom Penh.

Yours sincerely
with great concern,

[Your name]

Press Inquiries