Mascot Miss World Australia finalist Dayanna Grageda’s passion for volunteer elephant project
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
AS a little girl, Mascot’s Dayanna Grageda would bring home lost animals and injured pigeons.
So it was no surprise the 25-year-old animal lover would volunteer to work at an elephant sanctuary in Surin, Thailand.
STORY: Charity begins at home for Miss World Australia hopeful Dayanna Grageda
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
The Miss World Australia finalist is planning to travel back to Thailand at the end of the year to resume the work she first undertook at the Elephant Nature Park four years ago.
Ms Grageda and five other volunteers cared for elephants during the day before the elephants were handed back to their owners overnight.
Under the guidance of elephant handlers, Ms Grageda and the volunteers washed and fed the elephants and watered tree plantations planted by previous volunteers.
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
By taking care of the elephants, they are abrogating the need for the elephant owners to use the elephants for tourism purposes in urban areas.
Ms Drageda said the elephants’ time in the sanctuary was saving their lives which would otherwise be jeopardised by injuries incurred by being chained up and working in cities.
“These elephants are so traumatised, they’re psychologically harmed, they don’t want to be chained up,’’ she said.
“The project prevents them from going out to the city and causing elephants more distress.’’
Dayanna Grageda of Mascot. Source: Supplied
In exchange for giving the elephants up during the day, the elephant owners and their families are given compensation for the money they would normally generate from elephant tourism.
Ms Drageda said it was a life-changing experience learning more about elephants and playing a key role in their survival.
“It’s a lot of letting elephants be elephants,’’ she said.
“We bathed them, we scrubbed them, we fed them cucumbers in the water, it was so much fun.’’
Mascot's Dayanna Grageda is representing NSW in the Miss World Australia finals.Picture: John Appleyard Source: News Corp Australia
AT A GLANCE
• WHAT: Volunteer work at elephant sanctuary
• WHO: Elephant Nature Park
• WHERE: Surin, Thailand
• WHY: To care for endangered elephants
• DETAILS: elephantnaturepark.org
Dayanna Grageda of Mascot.
- by: Torin Chen
- From: Southern Courier
- August 08, 2014 9:24AM
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
AS a little girl, Mascot’s Dayanna Grageda would bring home lost animals and injured pigeons.
So it was no surprise the 25-year-old animal lover would volunteer to work at an elephant sanctuary in Surin, Thailand.
STORY: Charity begins at home for Miss World Australia hopeful Dayanna Grageda
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
The Miss World Australia finalist is planning to travel back to Thailand at the end of the year to resume the work she first undertook at the Elephant Nature Park four years ago.
Ms Grageda and five other volunteers cared for elephants during the day before the elephants were handed back to their owners overnight.
Under the guidance of elephant handlers, Ms Grageda and the volunteers washed and fed the elephants and watered tree plantations planted by previous volunteers.
Dayanna Grageda with elephants in Thailand. Source: Supplied
By taking care of the elephants, they are abrogating the need for the elephant owners to use the elephants for tourism purposes in urban areas.
Ms Drageda said the elephants’ time in the sanctuary was saving their lives which would otherwise be jeopardised by injuries incurred by being chained up and working in cities.
“These elephants are so traumatised, they’re psychologically harmed, they don’t want to be chained up,’’ she said.
“The project prevents them from going out to the city and causing elephants more distress.’’
Dayanna Grageda of Mascot. Source: Supplied
In exchange for giving the elephants up during the day, the elephant owners and their families are given compensation for the money they would normally generate from elephant tourism.
Ms Drageda said it was a life-changing experience learning more about elephants and playing a key role in their survival.
“It’s a lot of letting elephants be elephants,’’ she said.
“We bathed them, we scrubbed them, we fed them cucumbers in the water, it was so much fun.’’
Mascot's Dayanna Grageda is representing NSW in the Miss World Australia finals.Picture: John Appleyard Source: News Corp Australia
AT A GLANCE
• WHAT: Volunteer work at elephant sanctuary
• WHO: Elephant Nature Park
• WHERE: Surin, Thailand
• WHY: To care for endangered elephants
• DETAILS: elephantnaturepark.org
Dayanna Grageda of Mascot.