Mintra Celebrates Fifth Anniversary at ENP

And so it begins …

Before arriving to Elephant Nature Park on the last day of February 2009, Mintra spent her whole life as a street begging elephant. Mintra seemed to develop slowly, possibly because of her dislocated hips. Though she had lots of depigmentation, she was very small. We were told that she was somewhere between 10 and 14 years old — but our happy, healthy five-year-old elephants were as tall as Mintra was.

So many wonderful things have happened since Mintra’s arrival for her and for those whose lives she has touched. Mintra is a bright ray of sunshine, with a perky, friendly personality. She is adored by many. Let’s take a walk down memory lane and re-live some of the moment’s from Mintra’s past, starting with the day she arrived.

The popular pachyderm

From the very beginning, Mintra was popular with almost everyone. She was warmly welcomed to join more than one family group.

She took a liking to Jungle Boy within her first half hour at ENP, when she went to the river for the first time.

Over the next couple of weeks, Mintra had so much attention, she seemed to roar with excitement to see who would respond to her calls the quickest. After a brief period of time with the Tong Tae family group, she and Malai Tong set off on their own. Though we can not know for sure, it is possible that Mintra and Malai Tong knew each other from their street begging days.

Malai Tong sure was happy to see Mintra.

They ran around the park trumpeting excitedly, Mintra almost tripping herself trying to keep up with Malai Tong. Dok Ngern joined up with them as well, forming a very loud, dramatic trio.

At the end of March, a beautiful event transpired …

Shy and troubled Mae Dta Keow had recently lost best friend, Mae Boon and her daughter Aura. We were unsure as to whether Mae Dta Keow would have the confidence to reach out and connect with someone else … but she did.

Mintra and Malai Tong are both young, happy, non-intimidating elephants. They make shy elephants feel comfortable. Mae Dta Keow was not afraid to approach them. Mintra loved her right away; Mae Dta Keow became a best girlfriend and adopted auntie from that moment onward.

Ten months later, Mae Jampaa arrived and Mintra took her in immediately.

Mae Dta Keow accepted her easily, knowing that since Mintra was overflowing with love and joy, there was enough of her to share. Mae Jampaa quickly became devoted to Mintra. For Mae Dta Keow and Mae Jampaa, being with Mintra was the best thing that could happen to them. She reminded them how to relax and have fun, feelings that decades of abuse had long buried. The relationship was mutually beneficial — Mintra filled them with purpose, brought them back to life. They cared for her like she was their adopted daughter.

Time passed and Mintra, Mae Dta Keow and Mae Jampaa grew closer and closer. They always seemed to have something to talk about, trunk to mouth, trunk to ear, trunk to trunk, sharing secrets. The days turned to weeks, and soon months passed by happily.

Bull-crazy

Though she loved the company of her older girlfriends, Mintra liked to flirt. Times like these were when Mae Dta Keow and Mae Jampaa were the most protective. That handsome tusker Jungle Boy just kept popping back into the picture. The old gals would thump their trunks and snort menacingly whenever Jungle Boy came to call, but Mintra loved every minute of it.

Mae Dta Keow was so over protective, she would even offer herself to Jungle Boy in an effort to keep him away from cute little Mintra.

The guardian

Over the years, there were times when Mae Dta Keow seemed a bit off. She would decide to lie down during the day to rest. Mintra always stayed by her side to comfort and protect her.

Mintra has always been a social butterfly and also still a kid at heart. She loves to play and would often lead her hesitant friends over to the big family group so that she could have some fun with eles closer to her age. All of the youngsters love her and enjoy her company.

Early June 2011 another wonderful event when Sao Yai arrived. Mintra and Mae Dta Keow rushed over to greet her. The meeting seemed to be very intense and emotional. Sao Yao bore a striking resemblance to Mae Dta Keow. We instantly believed that she was Mae Dta Keow’s long lost daughter. Sao Yai stayed with them for a week, but then went off to meet the rest of the herd, until early 2012 when she started spending time with them once again.

In June 2012 Mae Dta Keow took a turn for the worse. Despite our best efforts, there was nothing we could do for her. She did her best to enjoy time with her dear friends and daughter.

We were so happy that Mae Dta Keow was able to have Mintra in her life before she left us on the 28th of August.

The mom

Mintra and Jampaa had known that Mae Dta Keow was not going to make it, so they were relieved when her suffering was finally over. They soon settled back into their old routine and after a few months, Sao Yai re-joined them yet again.

And still, there were fleeting moments with Jungle Boy … what WAS their destiny???

It was Mid-2013. Mintra was looking like she had gained some weight. And curiously, her breasts were getting bigger. Was this just her hormones reacting to the recent arrival of Dok Mai or was something else going on?

Soon we would find out …

On August 23rd, Mintra’s breasts started leaking milk and she was very uncomfortable.

We then knew that she could give birth at any time. In the early morning hours of the 25th, little Yin Dee arrived! We have not done a DNA test, but looking back through “her”-story, it seems obvious who Yin Dee’s father might be!

And to complete the circle, the number one nanny of Yin Dee is none other than the amazing Malai Tong, one of the first friends Mintra connected with when she arrived at ENP.

After taking a little bit of time to adjust, Mintra is well settled into her new role as mom and is now able to be both an attentive mother as well as a loyal best friend. With the help of Malai Tong of course!!!

Mae Dta Keow would be proud.