Blind, Deaf and Finally Free

At 73 years old, Sookjai had worked very hard in her life.  From working as a street beggar to tourist trekking, she had a long life.  On January 24, Elephant Nature Park’s rescue team went to a pick her up from a location near Kanchanaburi.  She had a lot of wounds on her head and her body.  Being completely blind, and mostly deaf, she was slightly hesitant to get on the truck.  On the ride, she looked very hungry, but would not eat anything as the suspense was too much.

Last snack before loading the truck

On the way to freedom

As the truck arrived, she again let go of some tears.  Smelling the air around her, she was easy to get off of the truck to her new home.  Not long after she had treatment of her wounds and enjoyed another snack.

Since her arrival, she has really made Elephant Nature Park her home.  Her first couple of days out of her enclosure she went directly to the river, but now she is taking her time around the property to explore!

Sookjai in the mud bath