One year ago a blind ex-circus elephant, who had been chained in her owner’s yard for the past three years, hit the jackpot … a truck pulled up, ready to take her on a 20+ hour journey that would end at ENP, where she would begin her new life. Little did she know it, but it was her lucky day. For once in her life, her name was fitting, for she was known as Lucky.
There are many social groups within our herd of elephants who reside at Elephant Nature Park. For some, we never know what tomorrow will bring, while others have a rather predictable routine. Read on and you will have a glimpse into their complex relationships …
Since the foundation launched its new site and blog encompassing all of Lek’s projects in October 2012, we’ve aimed to provide our supporters not only with the latest news from her projects, but also entertaining and informative stories and photos about the animals we rescue.
Today, we’d like to share with you some of our favorite photos of Lek with you from the past year. These photos show just how amazing Lek and her bond with the animals in her life is.
Without more land, there can be no more elephants …
Ten years ago, when Elephant Nature Park first moved to the Mae Taeng valley the area was virtually undeveloped. From Mae Tamman onward, the road was rutted gravel two track, which made for a challenging drive in the rainy season. The thick forest on either side threatened to engulf the road, giving one the feeling that you were heading well off-the-beaten-path. The final bumpy descent passes a sacred spirit house nestled tight against the rocky mountainside (to honor the spirit of the mountain who has claimed a few lives in the past) followed by a sharp curve and then — voila — it seemed you had reached paradise!
The jungle and mountains opened up to reveal a fertile valley with a river winding, snake-like. From the road there were no signs of habitation anywhere … several extremely large boulders lay clustered and scattered about the landscape. But wait — one of the boulders was moving! WOW … ELEPHANTS!!!
…and there was Elephant Nature Park … in the beginning.
30-year-old Lucky finds new home at Thailand sanctuary CHIANG MAI, Thailand (Feb. 13, 2013) – Thanks to Save Elephant Foundation (SEF), one elephant who spent her life performing in a circus has a new home, and a new lease on…
Captive elephants taken to freedom at Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia SIEM REAP, Cambodia – February 12, 2013 – Two captive Asian elephants in Cambodia now have a new home … and a new lease on life thanks to Save Elephant Foundation…
On 31 January, our team set off for a whirlwind trip to Surin with one goal: to rescue Lucky, a circus elephant who, after 30 years in the circus, was rendered blind from the spotlights and in need of a place to live the rest of her life without performing for people.
Around 6 p.m. on Thursday, staff and four volunteers loaded into a Save Elephant Foundation van and headed down south to Surin. We drove through the night and early morning, stopping briefly at the Cambodia border to leave some of our staff who were heading to Elephant Sanctuary Cambodia. Then, we continued on towards Surin.
We find Lucky behind the house, awaiting her transit to her new home and freedom.
After nearly 20 hours of driving, we arrived to Lucky’s home. We found her behind the house, on a chain, awaiting our arrival. The previous day, another SEF team (including one of our vets), headed down to examine her and prepare her for her journey home to Elephant Nature Park.
It’s 16 January, 2013, and we begin our journey with two rescued elephants from the logging industry. The sun hasn’t even begun to light the sky, and our Save Elephant Foundation team is awake and ready to bring these two girls back to the forest, where they belong.
The journey isn’t easy.
Even when the first oranges and pinks light the sky, the temperatures are still cold and our mahouts are draped in blankets a top the massive trucks as the wind from the road chills them. We progress to the Mekong River, where our two trucks and team are greeted by locals and travelers, all stopping to take photos and learn more about what we are doing.
“We have rescued them,” we explain. “Today, they will learn what is feels like to be free.”
Thanks to Matt Rousu and Chantelle Ridley, a female elephant in her mid thirties can begin a new life and put her working days behind her. Renamed Dao Tong (Golden Star), she was formerly known as Sai Roong (which means…
