Pamper a Pachyderm Update

We have finally said goodbye to the hot and dry season. Each night, the mountiansides were ablaze and the usually fresh air was pungent with the acrid smell of smoke. The moon itself, barely visible through the heavy smog. The sun rose wearing a mask of burnt orange and red. The beautiful mountains, which embrace our land, disappeared under a thick haze. With great anticipation, we were waiting for the rainy season to begin. 

Green! Lush!

And now the rains are upon us … all is lush and green once again. The dry season feels long forgotten. The insects are out in profusion, super-sized this time of year. Humidity is at 100 percent and when the sun is shining the temps hit 100F/40C. The elephants spend as much time as they can in the river and we, determined to observe and catch those great action shots, sweat it out on the shore, their loyal fans the pachy-papparazzi.

Each night, the rain showers pass through, followed by a symphony of singing frogs and toads. The mountain sides are rejuvenated by the rains and are once again layers of lush emerald green. 

All creatures at the ENP adapt and flow with the natural rhythm of Mother Nature.

Well into it’s sixth month, the Pamper a Pachyderm program is a great success and still going strong!

Trekking along with the elephants

It has been wonderful to watch Muoy transform from someone who used to see elephants as only a source of income to someone who now understands what makes elephants happy and enjoys being part of making this possible!

The elephants who initially stayed with Muoy were leased from their owners. Muoy paid them a monthly wage so that she could keep them at her place. Though the Pamper a Pachyderm program is wonderful and relaxing for the elephants, not all owners see the benefits. When the project kicked off on January 1st, there were three elephants. Sadly, after only a month of playing diva, Mae Elu was taken back by her owner to resume working in another elephant camp. This left Mae Baang and Mae Bua Tong (who incidentally, is the daughter of our Mae Boon Ma).

And now more sad news: the owners of Mae Baang and Mae Bua Tong also removed their elephants, taking them to resume trekking. The girls had grown quite healthy and relaxed during their period of pampering and their friendship developed to a more intense level. They were transferred together and will work side-by-side, hopefully making the transition from freedom to chains and slavery more bearable.

There is much controversy these days regarding leasing of elephants over buying elephants. This situation is a classic example of the frustrating side of leasing. Though leasing does not give the owners enough money to purchase another elephant, only a steady monthly income, the elephant can be taken back by the owner at any time and the owners feel that they can treat their elephant how they want because they belong to them. They often use methods that do not go along with our concept. Buying elephants give the sellers a profit that they can use to purchase another elephant, but the elephant who has been bought has a secure future and will never be taken back to work. There are positives and negatives to both sides. If more Pamper a Pachyderm projects can be developed, more working elephants could be leased from their owners for a year at a time to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation.

Though it is tragic that Mae Elu, Mae Baang and Mae Bua Tong have to return to work, it has opened up space for other elephants to be able to benefit from this program. 

Mae Perm and Jokia join Pamper a Pachyderm

For the moment, select members of the ENP herd are enjoying a turn on the Pamper a Pachyderm Program. It gives them a change of scenery and some good exercise as well. Not long after her rescue, Mae Banyen, an older lady in her 60’s, joined the PAP tour. After the sad departure of Mae Bua Tong and Mae Baang, our Mae Kham Puan and Tilly spent their days walking with the PAP guests. After a few months, they were replaced by Mae Perm and Jokia who are presently walking each day with Mae Banyen.

Pamper a Pachyderm is an ENP/SEF program which is hosted by Muoy and begins and ends at her place. ENP is supporting Muoy because we are very happy that she was open to our idea and has changed from exploitative elephant tourism to a more gentle elephant tourism, which greatly benefits the elephants.