Mae Bua Kham Becomes a Nanny

Here at Elephant Nature Park, wonders never cease!

It is impossible to not get totally sucked in by our ongoing elephant soap opera. With each day, there are amazing interactions happening and endless possibilities for new alliances.

Our latest development is most wonderful and surprising.

We have quite a few “old ladies” at ENP. Most of them are a bit stand-offish and not overly interested in helping to look after little ones. A few of them even choose to keep to themselves. But what we have learned from years of experience is that anyone can change …

Navann’s number one gran-nanny of almost two years is the beautiful Mae Kham Paan. Before Navann, she kept to herself and seemed quite content. A few months after Navann’s arrival, she started to take an interest and was often seen loitering outside of his shelter. At one point, Navann reached his tiny trunk towards Kham Paan’s long forgotten breasts. She instinctively moved her front leg forward and leaned in as close as possible to him.

A few days later she moved in and has been with him ever since. Becoming a gran-nanny to Navann brought a sense of purpose to this shy old girl’s life. Mae Kham Paan has been committed to Navann ever since — so much so that she puts his needs before her own. As a result, Mae Kham Paan is finally beginning to show her age.

The call for reinforcements went out.

As much as we try to know about what is going on with our herd, there is much discussion and decision making that we have no part in. They took matters into their own trunks and brought in another attendant for the pampered little Prince.

And, who this turned out to be was completely unexpected!!

Enter Mae Bua Kham …

For most of her seven-plus years here, she has kept to herself. In the first years after her arrival she spent lots of time playfully sparring with both Hope and Jungle Boy. Once they hit their growth spurts and had more “manly desires” she shied away from them, only recently choosing to hang out with Sir Hope once again, flirting like a girl half her years.

Bua Kham would loosely associate with other herd members but never really connected with anyone. She never seemed particularly lonely, just uninterested in having friends. Lately, she had been spending more time down at the “magical” tree shrine area, where so much socialization happens. Mae Bua Kham was getting more comfortable with the Boon Ma, Bua Loy, Lucky crew and could sometimes be found in the company of Thai Koon.

It was here at the tree shrine, during these moments when she first began to take an interest in Navann. He had always been there, eating his afternoon fruit basket with his other family members right around the corner from her — but she had never before really noticed just how CHUNKY CUTE (and Hope-like) he was.

Navann is a budding ladies man. He likes to schmooze and collect admirers (traits he most likely gets from his dad). Navann knows he is cute and he knows how to use his charms. He can woo almost any female, big or small. He trundles over casually, snuggles himself under the unknowing “victim’s” trunk and fore legs making them feel that he is all theirs.

Then he casts his spell.

It takes virtually no time for them to feel completely taken by him. His wish is their command. “Follow me, I want to play in the river …”  and they follow obediently.

At first, Mae Bua Kham was tentatively fixated on Navann, but within a few days he became a full-blown addiction for this robust old gal. Every moment is spent by his side. The timing could not have been better. Navann was in need of a healthy, active caretaker who is energetic and quick on her feet. Number one gran-nanny Mae Kham Paan is slowing down and no longer has the energy to keep up with Navann. Sri Prae moves slow on her best days due to her landmine injury and Dao Tong’s time with Navann has been limited because even she over exerted herself trying to keep up with him.

So now, an elderly female who spent many years on her own is at the center of a family group, doting on an adventuresome bull calf. Mae Bua Kham is comfortable with Sri Prae, Kham Paan and even Dao Tong. They seem to have no problem with her joining them as they know her speed and energy is an asset. For whatever reason, the time was now. Mae Bua Kham finally decided she needed more. She is a confident gran-nanny and friend. She is finally needed … it is wonderful to hear her express herself within her herd, exclaiming with rumbles or roars of concern over Navann’s distress.

In the past, Mae Bua Kham was mostly quiet, a life of solitude leaving her with little to say, but NOW her life is full. There is much to say and she has new friends and family to share her feelings with.