Description
When someone wants to no longer care for their elephant, it is not uncommon to hear their elephant described as a young girl who may be pregnant to gain more value in the trade.
Aueng Kham came to us with this story. We can’t confirm for a while if she is pregnant. More importantly, we have recued this beautiful elephant from a life of work, so that one more elephant shall be free from fear and demeaning labor. The scars all over her body speak plainly enough. She deserves a better life.
The journey of Aueng Kham to ENP began on July 27, 2020, when we walked her to freedom over the mountain away from a circus and riding elephant camp at Mae Teang. Thanks to Warattada “Meow” Pattarodom and her friends, who helped to take the saddle off from Aueng Kham’s back, and together we all walked back home.
Upon arrival, her first swim in the river was a sign of good days to come. Afterwards, we took her to the clinic as Aueng Kham’s was suffering with a fungal skin infection. Our vet team treated her daily and today the infection is gone.
Aueng Kham is polite and easy mannered. Her new mahout, Zaw Bu Ki, would handpick her food to put directly into her mouth, so she knows he cares for her, she can trust him. He can help her to adjust to the environment at ENP and forget her traumatic past.
Even though they had just met each other, a beautiful friendship between Aueng Kham and Hom Nuan blossomed. They are very vocal which makes us smile. They talk to each other continuously, as if they had been apart for a long time and welcome the happy reunion.
No one can imagine the hard life that they both have passed through, as is common, to be taken from their mothers at a tender age and made to work and perform meaningless behaviors. It is clear that Aueng Kham and Hom Nuan are desperate for companionship and loving care, and they befriended Rattana Kham the night of her arrival.
