Mae Mali

Mae Mali arrived to Elephant Haven in 2004 and is around 35 years old. As at trekking elephant, Mali provided rides for visiting tourists. Mali prefers to spend her time alone as she is not comfortable around the other elephants. She is very tall which allows her to eat all the leaves at the top of the trees.

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Elephant Haven –  Our newest program in Sai Yok Kanchanaburi, is located in the South West of Thailand in the beautiful Sai Yok National Park region.

Our team from Elephant Nature Park have been working together with the mahouts at Sai Yok trekking camp, in preparation of this important event, finally removing the chains and saddles from elephants who were being used for riding.

Some elephants from the nearby Sai Yok trekking camp have already made it to the gate of Elephant Haven.  There are others still currently being used for tourist industry activities at the trekking camp and when not working, are kept chained.

If we can demonstrate the importance of freedom for the elephants and the success of this concept – the trekking camp will consider releasing the others !!

This project is extremely important to educate trekking camps and people who keep elephants, about the joy and satisfaction for everyone by giving freedom to elephants to roam freely in their natural habitats. The more people support this project, the brighter the future is for other elephants.

The time is NOW to shed the burden of chains and trekking seats. . . The time is NOW to provide a haven for them to be free to make their own choices.

From now on, they will enjoy their time walking together to the green fields, roaming free, playing in the mud, eating well and swimming in the deep river.

It is TIME to retire them from their labors, young or old and say goodbye to being ridden. It is high TIME for people to treat them with RESPECT.

If you want to help to make a difference for them, please come to support this new Save Elephant Foundation project. The Elephant Haven needs volunteers and visitors.

The more people come to support this program, the more elephants will be retired from their working lives .

Just by looking at the pictures,  you can see how happy the elephants are when they get the freedom that they deserve. Please support the Sai Yok camp in making this big change. Your support secures an elephant’s future of happiness.

• Available 20 August 2015 onwards

Help to guarantee the success of this project by making a booking with us here using one of the following links:

Single Day Visit

Overnight (2 Days & 1 Night)

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There have been numerous elephants rescued since the founding of ENP back in 1995, many arriving in dreadful condition – But – rarely have we encountered an elephant as emaciated as she who has become SAZA.

A skeleton shrink wrapped in dried out skin, she was covered with pressure wounds. Tendons exposed, not a muscle left in her body with the exception of her trunk. Lucky for her, besides being about 700 lbs under weight, she has no old breaks or dislocations. She is also fortunate to have sight in both eyes, though robbed of her eyelashes by greedy humans with a lust for animal parts.

Posessing a strong spirit, Saza is determined to survive.

Until recently, there were no significant laws in effect to protect elephants in Thailand. There was no official retirement age. As long as an elephant could still walk, they could be worked. Owners, seeing the elephant as only a commodity, need to get as much out of their investment as possible.
Thanks to our founder Lek Chailert and Khun Nuna Silpa Archa, the first ever serious animal protection law was passed in December 2014. In this new law it stipulates that any elephant over the age of 55 must be retired. The next step is for these laws to be enforced. If enforced, the ‘Sazas’ of the working elephant world will all be retired and finally given the specialized care that they so rightly deserve.

Saza was born around 1943 in Mae Chaem.

Her first job was pulling a plow tilling fields, though she spent most of her life working in logging. After the logging ban in 1989, Saza was used to give rides to tourists. She worked in many different areas through out Thailand, finally ending up in Kanchanaburi where she was discovered, gaunt and listless but still being worked.

Saza before rescue.

Hoards of uneducated tourists rode on her back and posed reclining on her trunk, completely unaware that she was deteriorating before their very eyes. Eyes that were blind to her suffering…. only open to their ‘selfie’ shots as they thoughtlessly used her as a prop in their latest vacation photo trophy.

Ignorance is bliss….

Saza’s last set of teeth are completely worn out, making it impossible for her to absorb any nutrition from the grass, cornstalks or pineapple tops she was given at the end of each day. After lifting humans all day every day and balancing them on her trunk, she barely had enough energy to lift the food to her mouth and then, without a good set of teeth – she could not even chew it.

Saza’s dung shows her poor digestion.

Day by day, she was wasting away…

Similar to humans, each elephant posesses their own personality and constitution. Some elephants are survivors and can endure much suffering and still keep going – while others give up quickly under extreme pressure. It is astonishing that given Saza’s condition, she still had the will to keep going. It is a wonder that she did not just lay down one night and refuse to get up the next morning.

BUT – Saza had not lost HOPE…..

Somehow, she must have known that there was a light at the end of the long, seemingly unending, dark tunnel that was her life.

So she kept going … and finally …

She has reached the other side.

Khun Nuna Silpa Archa learned about Saza’s plight and contacted a friend who was interested in helping out an elephant in need. Now, thanks to funds donated by Mr. Visit Tantisunthorn and family Saza is safe at ENP.

Saza enjoys her special diet.

She is on a diet of specially developed elephant pellets, banana and rice balls, peeled watermelon, tamarind salt balls, banana leaves, bamboo leaves and cornstalks. She spends her afternoons at a secluded spot on the riverside where the grass is very tender.

A few times a week, after the other elephants have went back to their shelters, Saza takes a walk out to the main area of the park. She is still quite hesitant to really enjoy the mud bath or the river. She DOES enjoy hanging out under the fig trees, scratching herself against the trunk, eating the figs that have dropped and brushing herself with fresh leafy branches.

Saza getting to know her new surroundings.

Saza has gained weight since her arrival, but she is still too frail to attempt any meetings with other members of our herd.

Just recently, on her way back to her shelter, she passed by the shelters of Faa Mai, Tong Jaan, Mae Bua Tong and Faa Sai. For the first time ever, she seemed interested in the other elephants and reached in to fleetingly interact with them.

Enjoying a fig tree branch.

Saza wisely surveys her new surroundings. She has a stately air about her. Despite being a slave all her life, she still has a sense of dignity.   She seems appreciative of our efforts to restore her health and vitality.           Finally retired, she no longer has to work for anyone.

We now happily work for HER, doing our best – to make the rest of her days, the BEST days.

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Sook Sai steps off the truck and in to her new life at ENP.

She has been renamed Sook Sai which means ‘pure happiness’. Originally from Mae Sariang and Karen hill tribe owners, Sook Sai has been moved all around Thailand and has passed from owner to owner about 15 times.

As would be expected, she began her working life in legal and illegal logging. Sook Sai eventually ended up in the south of Thailand working as a trekking elephant. Four years ago she lost her footing going up a hill and broke her ankle. She was in recovery for one and a half years, after which she was forced to resume trekking even though her ankle did not heal properly and buckled under her weight causing her to walk on the side of her foot. As a result, she limped. Tourists who she carried complained about the unstable, wobbly ride.

No one really seemed to care how SHE felt at all.

Sook Sai’s ankle did not heal properly but still she was worked.

Because of the complaints her trekking days ended.                  But her working days did not.

Next, she became a street begging elephant. This was also short lived because people DID complain about her injured foot and walking on the hard concrete. The mahout did not enjoy being criticized all the time so he took her back home.

Sadly, Sook Sai’s days of exploitation and abuse were far from over…

As is the norm for many a female elephant who have a break which prohibits them from working, she was put in a ‘forced breeding program’. There are many methods of forced breeding – and it happens all around the world, not just in Thailand. Baby elephants are a valuable commodity, one which handicapped females can produce for their owners when other means of employment are not an option. BUT – quite often the stress of the injury and the long recovery causes the female’s estrous cycle to fall dormant. Sadly, determined owners will often disregard this possibility, instead choosing to force their elephant to withstand multiple mating incidents over a course of days, weeks and sometimes months.

Like so many others, Sook Sai did not become pregnant.                  Her owner became frustrated and mostly abandoned her.

She stood handcuffed and chained to a tree with barely any room to move, a wall of her own dung slowly rising around her.

She often went without food and water because of her owner’s lack of interest in her.

Sook Sai was neglected and left to stand in her own feces.

After all, to him she was just some THING to make money with…. not some ONE who had needs or feelings.

Thankfully, she was brought to our attention and her life of solitary sadness could come to an end.

Jack Lanting and Sook Sai

This would not have been possible without the generous donations from the many people who helped fund this rescue. Two of the biggest donors hail from New Zealand and held fundraising campaigns – none other than 13 year old Jack Lanting and his mom, Viv. Jack has been raising awareness for elephants since he was 9 years old!

Tracy and Sook Sai.

Another Kiwi, Tracy Hand connected with Viv and Jack and they worked together to come up with more than half of the funds needed for Sook Sai.

A big thanks also goes out to the International School of Bangkok, NIST (New International School of Thailand) and AB Lucas School of Canada for funds donated.

Life at ENP – Sook Sai turns into a big kid when she gets time with Navann!

Sook Sai meeting some of the ENP herd.

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Saza was born around 1943. She arrived to Elephant Nature Park on February 1, 2015. She was discovered in a trekking camp in Kanchanaburi. With no supplementary food – despite her worn out teeth and poor digestion, Saza was so emaciated that even her tendons were visible. Though she was very weak she continued to be worked, providing tourists with rides.

Because she was over exploited at the trekking camp, Saza does not enjoy the attention of people. This old lady has a very strong will to live. Here at ENP she is on a special needs diet and is steadily gaining weight and energy. As Saza settles in to retirement, she is re-gaining her self confidence. Saza has no problem letting us know what she likes and what she does not like. We are very happy to see that after so many years of work, she still has some spirit! Saza can be seen hanging out near Mae Jan Peng. The two old ladies have agreed upon a tentative friendship.

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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.

The post Mintra Celebrates Fifth Anniversary at ENP appeared first on Save Elephant Foundation - Online News.

Thai (over Dok Mai) shares a precious moment with her family herd.

Even within the family unit things are not always harmonious. Mae Thai and Mae Sri Nuan are sometimes at odds with one another. Dok Ngern’s son Chang Yim (whom Sri Nuan is very protective of) often starts head-butting matches with old Mae Thai. Of course, she thinks that she should be able to give him her all and try to put him in his place as an elder female in the herd should. And of course as a cocky four-year-old (who acts like he is going on 20!) Chang Yim also thinks this is a great game and has no intentions of backing down to the old grandma. As a result of this stubborn stand off, massive Mae Sri Nuan will often meander over menacingly, ready for an intervention of which Mae Thai will bear the brunt. “How dare she push my boy,” Sri Nuan seems to be thinking … to which Mae Thai mentally replies: “He started it!”

And so it goes …

Between the family drama and the poor social skills, Mae Thai is often seen on the fringes of her group and kept out of some of their more social activities such as close-up time with the guests or mingling with Navann’s family. There are times when it seems that Mae Thai does not mind being on her own and other moments when it is evident she would like to be in the midst of her herd.

Mae Thai tries to back off Mae Tee who is trying to pay a visit to the other members of the family group.

Over the past few years, Mae Thai has sought companionship with someone she never would have considered in the past – none other than ‘Sir’ Hope!

This is a hilarious development if you know their past. When Hope was around Faa Mai’s age, Mae Thai had no patience for him and his daily antics at the mud pit, often playing too rough with ‘her’ beloved little Tong Jaan. She used to consider him no less than an annoying little brat!

Mae Thai with Faa Sai and ‘Sir’ Hope.

Mae Thai has always been thought of as a spinster — no longer able to get pregnant and no interest in males. BUT — her interest was rekindled a few years back when Hope ‘came of age’ and became quite popular with the other gals in Thai’s family.

Hope was busy planting his seed where he could, feeling quite grown up and satisfied with himself. With no adult bulls around to dominate Hope, he began to feel that he could dominate some of the older females who used to push him around when he was younger. Hope was sure that Mae Thai would be just as willing to accept his reproductive advances as Sri Nuan, Mae Bua Tong and Dok Ngern were. Suprisingly, he turned out to be right!

Mae Thai enjoying a trunk drape from her boy toy Hope.

At first, Mae Thai was downright afraid and offended by Hope’s persistence. Knowing running away would only provoke a chase, she eventually gave in and allowed him to have his way. Much to her astonishment, Thai found that she actually enjoyed this long forgotten interaction and as a result she became a bit of a ‘cougar’. She still hangs out with Hope quite regularly.

Many older female elephants can be quite stubborn and set in their ways. Mae Thai is a prime example of this! After a full life of submitting to humans in the working world followed by 10 years of retirement with no riding or bull hooks, Mae Thai does not like to listen. She really only respects and responds to a mahout who is experienced and knows what he is doing. If a mahout does not fit this description there will be a battle of wills, one of which Mae Thai will most likely be the winner. Because she is part of a big family group and the mahouts work as a collective of sorts, Thai is quite often assigned a young and inexperienced mahout. It is known that one of the more experienced mahouts will need to come to his aid multiple times a day. Mae Thai is highly annoyed by the bumbling attempts of a boy young enough to be her grandson, thinking he can tell her what to do!! She postures threateningly, snorting her exasperation, rooting her feet firmly to the ground she stands on, refusing to budge. Knowing there are limitations to the force that can be used to get an elephant to cooperate at ENP, a few of Mae Thai’s teenage mahouts have nearly been brought to tears of frustration, with no sympathy from weathered old Thai. She is a gal of her own mind and we love her the way she is.

The only elephant in the herd left without a sponsor

Cantankerous Mae Thai … what a character!! Somehow, Mae Thai has been overlooked and is the only elephant in the ENP who has not yet been fostered! Mae Thai feels left out. PLEASE foster Mae Thai for your favorite grandma or feisty friend or family member, TODAY.

With the Christmas holiday looming ahead, fostering an elephant is a gift that gives and gives!! When you give a gift of a fostering you are not cluttering up one’s home with stuff, or polluting the environment with excess packaging. Your funds help care for all of the animals here at ENP and the recipient gets updates with pictures of their foster elephant multiple times a year. The perfect gift!!!

The post Spotlight: Grandma Auntie Mae Thai appeared first on Save Elephant Foundation - Online News.

Right after Elephant Nature Park settled at this location, Dam became the mahout of Mae Keow, Lek’s third elephant. He cared for her for almost a year. Dam then decided to leave for a while, but after about 10 months he came back hoping to yet again look after one of the ENP’s herd.

Not long after Dam’s departure, we rescued a bull elephant named Kham Meun. When Dam returned, we hired him back because he had experience working with hard to manage bulls, so he was put with Kham Meun. Dam looked after Kham Meun for about a year.

… And then we had an even bigger job for Dam, though in a smaller package!

Hope was just past 5-years-old when the mahout who was caring for him decided to go back home. Dam was asked to take over the very demanding job of managing Hope, who was well on his way to being the busiest elephant in the park. That first day when Dam became Hope’s mahout, was one of the luckiest days of Hope’s life. Hope was very fortunate to have such a patient, confident and accomplished mahout looking after him for the next 3 1/2 years — very formative years for a young bull.

Dam worked with Hope daily and using positive reinforcement taught Hope to respond to all the basic commands needed to keep him in control. Dam has an amazing way with elephants. They respond to his nature cooperatively, sensing that Dam knows what he is doing. Dam never uses excessive force or intimidation to get the response he needs from an elephant.

Dam enjoyed caring for Hope. Hope was content having Dam as his mahout. But, soon after the birth of Faa Sai, Dam felt that he needed a change. He was ready for a less demanding elephant. Having a baby meant needing more time off and that is not easy for the mahout of Hope. A second mahout was hired and the slow change over began.

Once Hope accepted his new mahout Dam took over the care of another elephant, this time a middle aged, very slow female named Mae Kham Geao. Mae Kham Geao was the polar opposite of Hope. Dam went from feisty, fast, spirited, mischievous male to slow, calm, predictable female. In short, Dam went from the most difficult elephant in the park to the easiest elephant in the park, almost like a permanent paid vacation!

For the next 3 1/2 years Dam was the mahout of Mae Kham Geao. Despite being very mild mannered, Mae Kham Geao was a special needs elephant, so Dam’s expertise was not lost on her. Mae Kham Geao moved at an incredibly slow pace and was a bit stubborn. A patient, experienced mahout was a must.

One of Dam’s many great qualities is the fact that he actually spends a good amount of time touching and engaging with the elephant in his care. More often than not, you will find Dam checking behind the ears and around the neck picking off tiny ticks. They may only be a very mild annoyance to the elephant, but the act of Dam gently touching his elephant regularly, creates in the elephant a strong sense of trust for Dam. Positive touch is very important in building a good mahout elephant relationship. This is essential when there is a stressful situation and a mahout needs to keep the elephant in control. The elephant may cooperate with the mahout more willingly as they feel safe with, and respect, the mahout without being afraid. This is how elephants respond to Dam and what makes him more special than the average mahout.

During Mae Kham Geao’s last days, Dam never left her side. He did everything in his power to make sure that she was comfortable. When she let go, Dam was there to say goodbye.

After Mae Kham Geao’s passing, Dam decided he wanted a career change. There is always an ongoing construction project of some sort going on here at ENP and Dam wanted to try his hand at welding. We thought it was a waste of a perfectly good mahout, but it seemed unfair to limit Dam’s experience and hold him back from learning a skilled trade … so, off went one of the best mahouts at ENP to ply the trade of welding. We could not help but feel a little bit sad.

Thankfully, the elephant gods had a plan!

Dam’s welding career was cut short by the arrival of Navann. When Sri Prae suprised us that morning with a new born calf, only days after her mahout had decided to leave, Dam was back on the job. Considering that the elephants born here will not be tortured into submission, having a competent, patient mahout is imperative to rearing a young calf — especially a bull. The timing was perfect. We breathed a sigh of relief knowing that Navann was in the care of Dam.

October 28, 2013 was Navann’s first birthday. Dam has taught him much in his first year of life as well as allowing him ample free time to just be a young elephant doted on by his mother and aunties. Navann’s days are long and full of learning, fun and new experiences.

At 6:30 a.m., many of our mahouts are just getting out of bed or still eating their breakfast. Dam, on the other hand, is already on the job, escorting Navann, Sri Prae, Mae Kham Paan and Dao Tong out to their favorite area in the field. The sunrise causes the morning dew covered grass to glisten.

While the elephants graze peacefully, taking in trunkfuls of the fresh morning air, Dam perches on a fallen log, pulls a block of wood from his bag and deftly begins to carve it into a miniature version of Navann. There is a sense of comfortable companionship and peace between the five of them. Navann, his devoted aunties and mother are very appreciative to be out roaming freely at such an early hour. They seem to know how lucky they are to have Dam as the head mahout of their family group.

We are certainly aware of how lucky we are to have Dam looking after Navann’s family. Mahouts like Dam who really care and take pride in what they do are a rare thing in this day and age. Thank you Dam, for all of your years of care and loyalty to the elephants of ENP!

The post Meet the Mahout: Navann’s Dam appeared first on Save Elephant Foundation - Online News.

Note how far behind Mae Tee the medical center is. Mae Tee really enjoys roaming far and wide.

She is enjoying fleeting interactive moments with Dok Mai, Dok Ngern and the other sociable members of that extended family group. She sometimes has pushing matches with Chang Yim.

Mae Tee gives the young bull, Chang Yim, a good shove.

Mae Tee arrived to Elephant Nature Park just over four years ago in very poor condition. Because of the abuses and maltreatment she suffered in her past, Mae Tee has stiff front wrists and deteriorating ankle joints. She does not lay down to sleep at night because her joints are too stiff and weak to support lifting her weight back up. She is ALWAYS on her feet — they never get a rest. Mae Tee has spent much of her time here at and around our elephant clinic. Soon after her arrival, abscesses erupted on her back feet and later, on her front feet as well.

We call upon CMU Wildlife Specialist Veterinary team to oversee any issues that require their expertise. They assess the problem and give us a treatment plan to follow. We have park veterinarians, staff and veterinarian volunteers who carry out the prescribed procedures. If we are unsure of anything, we consult the CMU team.

We could have taken Mae Tee to the elephant hospital at Lampang. Because it is a government run facility the care is free, but we felt that the four-hour ride to the hospital would be too stressful for Mae Tee. Instead, we choose to employ the services of the CMU veterinarians, because they will come to the park to treat our elephants in the enviornment where they feel the most comfortable.

In the west, an elephant in Mae Tee’s condition would very likely have been euthanized by now. Because of the Buddhist morals here in Thailand, there is much to be considered before euthanasia. No one will put down an elephant if they are still standing. From our daily observations of Mae Tee, it is very obvious that she has a strong will to live and get what she can out of life. In fact, Mae Tee has surprised even us. Last October, she lost her best friend who was a bit younger. We felt that Mae Tee might just give up after losing her constant companion of more than three years, but she was determined to keep going. It now seems that her friend might have been holding her back, as she is more active than ever.

Over the past year-and-a-half, the condition of Mae Tee’s feet has improved greatly.

Mae Tee’s feet are scrubbed twice daily with a mixture of chlorhexadine and water and rinsed with warm salt water.

To keep Mae Tee’s foot in the right position, her foot must be secured to the pole, hence the strap around her leg. If we did not tether her, she would move away. No hook or intimidation is used to keep her still. Just the strap and a basket of food.

Mae Tee receives daily care which includes foot soaks and twice-a-day cleanings. Mae Tee is allowed to roam freely in between treatments and travels quite far from the medical center at a slow but steady pace.

Mae Tee seems to be showing off her feet for the camera.

She enjoys mud baths and engaging with some of the younger elephants who reside at ENP.

Mae Tee enjoying a moment with Dok Ngern, Dok Mai and family.

Mae Tee enjoys interacting with Faa Mai.

There will come a time when Mae Tee’s issues will become more than she can bear, despite constant care. Her age and aches and pains will catch up with her and she will lie down. We will know when it is time to let her go and we will not hesitate to do what is best for her.

Mae Tee soaks up the rain.

But for now, Mae Tee is going strong! She has made it clear to us that she has much more to do before her time is finished!

The post Mae Tee stays determined appeared first on Save Elephant Foundation - Online News.

Both Navann and Dok Mai, led by their families are also enjoying exploring the new territory and receiving botany lessons, elephant style. Each social group will have a turn as long as they are physically able. Our aim is to continue this for as long as it is possible, taking breaks from time to time or moving to different areas to allow the forest to regenerate.

This is the first step towards our future plans to allow the healthiest of our herd to one day live free roaming on fenced in, protected, forested land without the constant presence of humans. Our search for the perfect place where we can create this jungle sanctuary is ongoing.

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