We want to start by thanking you all for the feedback on the 1st submission. We would like to address some concerns and clarify a few things from the original Prop 705. We have added a section of Q&A addressing the feedback received.

Additionally, we have added designs and more nounish elements to the proposal to give a better idea of how we will proliferate and introduce Nouns DAO to the animal world.**

TL;DR

Unchained Elephants, a community dedicated to promoting elephant welfare in Asia, is on a mission to rescue a fourth elephant from dire conditions and relocate it to an ethical sanctuary, free from tourism exploitation. With the support of Nouns, this rescue can become a reality! Three of our elephant rescues have been featured on The Dodo, The World's #1 Animal Brand, with millions of views on their channels, with a third story currently in production. We have developed a strong relationship with The Dodo, which covers these amazing elephant stories on their channels (please read the disclaimer below). Currently, we are exploring two different cases and organizing the logistics to make a 4th rescue happen.

Funding for the rescue: Proposed budget 38,700 USD

Lead by Unchained Elephants NFTs

Who is Unchained Elephants?

Unchained Elephants is a project dedicated to improving elephant welfare by rescuing elephants from dire conditions and relocating them to ethical sanctuaries. Our mission includes educating travelers, establishing an education center, and using NFTs & MemeCoins to support these initiatives. Over the past 12 months, we've rescued three elephants—Kanoon, Kham Phaeng, and Mongkoln—whose stories have reached over 9 million viewers through media coverage, including features on The Dodo and Yahoo News. To date, Unchained Elephants has donated $86,000 towards the care and rescue of three elephants, as well as the care of eight elephants during the pandemic when teh project started.

This is the before & after of Kham Phaeng, Top left: Working at a trekking camp. Below: A few months after living in a sanctuary. Also, Kanoon: Top right: Who was living next to a garbage dump for 4 years. Below: The day after we rescued him, enjoying a mud bath on his own.

Elephant Rescue Fund - Budget: 38,700 USD

We are working on our 4th elephant rescue, the rescue date To Be Confirmed but within 1 to 2 months after receiving the funds, as the process of buying the freedom of an elephant takes meticulous preparation and coordination. In our previous rescues, we rallied our community to raise funds through traditional crowdfunding and sales of NFTs (80/20). This time, the goal will be to launch a fully web3 elephant Noun rescue, currently we have a potential cases we are looking into it but there a lot of due diligence as well as preparation to relocate an elephant take up to 8 weeks. The most critical side is that we need to ensure that the rescued elephant will not be replaced by another, thereby fostering the elephant trade. We work with accredited elephant sanctuaries by World Animal Protection, so we carefully relocate the elephants to an accredited elephant sanctuary.

Q&A Based on the Feedback from the Original Submission - Prop 705:

Why buy the "freedom" of an elephant?

In Asia, elephants often face exploitation within the tourism and logging sectors, where animal rights are not as rigorously protected as in Western countries. This exploitation drives up the cost of elephants, with prices ranging from $27,000 to over $80,000 or more. Our mission is to educate travelers about the realities of the 'elephant experience' in Thailand, promoting ethical sanctuaries. Through our rescue operations, we raise awareness and empower travelers with knowledge to make better choices. We deliberately avoid purchasing the priciest elephants, as that would only fuel the exploitative market. Instead, we focus on rescuing and supporting elephants that are most at risk—those who might otherwise be returned to harsh labor in logging or forced into providing rides for tourists.

This is a video we did a few months ago explaining “Why are elephants being sold at such high prices

Will the owner of the elephant buy another one?

That was a very valid point, and yes there is a possibility of that happening. However, our goal is explicitly NOT to foster this trade. That's why, as mentioned, we focus on "cheaper" elephants who are genuinely in need to avoid contributing to the problem. We also make our due diligence to ask the owners why they are selling their elephant and what they intend to do with the money, whenever possible to avoid fostering the elephant trade. Of course, there are no guarantees, but our focus remains on elephants that are neglected. Spreading the word is crucial, which is why working with The Dodo to raise awareness for our mission. This video highlights the red flags we consider before getting involved in efforts to secure the freedom of the elephant.

Where do the elephants go, and who owns them? The elephants we rescue are donated to ethical sanctuaries where they can live out their lives naturally, free from human interaction. We collaborate with World Animal Protection Thailand, and the elephants we have relocated have been placed in sanctuaries accredited by WAP. In these sanctuaries, while visitors are permitted, they are not allowed to touch or ride the elephants. Instead, tourists pay an entrance fee to observe them, which helps fund the sanctuary's operations, ensuring the elephants can thrive in a protected environment. Our three rescues have been relocated to BLES, Somboon Legacy Foundation and Following Giants. These are three accredited, ethical sanctuaries in Thailand.

Can an elephant be rewilded and then poached to be resold? Domesticated elephants generally cannot be reintroduced into the wild because they undergo a brutal training process known as "Phajaan" as babies, where their spirit is broken, leaving them submissive to human control. Therefore, the elephants we rescue cannot be rewilded, then poached and then resold. Our mission is to leverage these rescues to raise awareness, and encourage visits to ethical sanctuaries, we aim to improve the welfare of the domesticated elephant population. We believe that educating travelers about what they demand will lead to changes in supply, ultimately fostering better treatment for elephants across the board.

Is this a sponsorship? No, tha was a misstatement in the previous proposal; the elephant is being donated to the sanctuary. Unchained Elephants manages all the logistics required to relocate the elephant to its new home and then transfers ownership of the elephant to the sanctuary, which will care for the elephant for life.

Can we give a name to the elephant? They already have names, but we can definitely give him a nickname like "Nounsy." or a name decided by the community

Value Proposition to Nouns:

We have been supported by getting featured by The Dodo, with three of our rescues highlighted on their channels. We have established a relationship with them, and based on the heartwarming story we will be able to capture, we are confident that we can secure another featured video on their channel.

Additionally, as part of this donation, Unchained Elephants and the rescue team will deliver the following to raise awareness about Nouns and continue to proliferate:

✓ Prominent Logo Placement in the Main Videos in regards  ✓ Custom Social Media Content  ✓ Featured on all press releases  ✓ Deidated email blast to our previous supporters  ✓ Logo on the T-shirts during the rescue  ✓ Dedicated video of the rescue with the Nouns logo  ✓ 8% of $ELiZ supply, Unchained Elephants token, distributed among Noun holders

Budget Break down: 38,700 USD

✓Buying the elephant's freedom - 30,000  ✓Elephant Transportation - 1,500  ✓Transportaion UE Team (5) - 2,300  ✓Transportation Sanctuary Team (3) - 700  ✓Film & Photo Crew (3)- 3,000  ✓Food & Accommodation (12) - 1200

Based Nouns Dao will support with 0.3 ETH (This has already been allocated by @basednouns)  ✓Noggles, T-shirts & Metal plaque at the sanctuary

Impact of Supporting a Nounish Elephant Rescue

Supporting an elephant rescue with Unchained Elephants brings profound and multifaceted benefits:

1. Direct Contribution to Welfare: Your support directly funds the rescue and relocation of elephants from dire conditions to ethical sanctuaries, ensuring they live in a safe and nurturing environment.
2. Raising Awareness: These rescues educate viewers about elephant mistreatment in captivity, promoting ethical alternatives to shift public perception and behavior. Your support helps amplify this critical message, reaching millions and fostering a deeper understanding of ethical tourism and conservation.
3. Inspiring Action: UNCHAINED showcases powerful rescue stories to inspire global audiences to support conservation and ethical tourism, advocating for animal welfare and driving positive change.
4. Catalyzing Change: Through compelling storytelling and advocacy with the support of the NOUNS, we aim to influence and transform elephant/animal tourism practices, encouraging a more humane and sustainable approach.
5. Community Engagement: The rescue initiatives foster online and offline engagement by encouraging discussions, supporting ethical sanctuaries, and contributing to conservation efforts. Your sponsorship encourages community involvement and inspires others to participate in these meaningful activities.
6. Media Impact: The broad media coverage and viewership of the rescue amplifies the message of the NOUNS with elephant welfare, reaching diverse audiences and creating a significant impact.
7. Emotional Connection: Being part of a rescue mission allows Nouns Holders to form a personal connection with the rescued elephants, witnessing their transformation and knowing they played a crucial role in their journey to freedom and happiness.

By supporting an elephant rescue, you play an integral role in driving awareness, inspiring action, and creating lasting change for elephant welfare and ethical tourism.

Together, let’s make a lasting difference in elephant welfare and rewrite their story for a brighter future with Nouns! 🐘

• Relevant Links About Our Work:

  • The Dodo - Kanoon
  • The Dodo - Kham Phaeng
  • The Dodo - Mongkoln
  • Mention on Forbes: How NFTs Can Still Unlock Value For Your NonProfit
  • Mentions on Yahoo News: Support for Mongkoln Rescue & Support for Kham Phaeng

• Social Media Links:

  *X *Website *Multichain NFTs *Instagram *LinkeIn

Recipient Address 0xA6c6322B69FE8f85983ef537Eff1bcC21aC00a1c