Tong Suk: Transition From Boy to Father

Tong Suk (a.k.a Jungle Boy) is one of the Elephant Nature Park (ENP) bulls who arrived at our sanctuary in May of 2003.  His mother was a trekking elephant that was allowed maternity leave and gave birth to Tong Suk at Save Elephant Foundation’s project Elephant Haven, in Kanchanaburi, the year of 2000.  After four months, her owner wanted his mother, Mae Boon Na to go back to work.  Tong Suk had to go with her and follow his mother every day while she gave rides to tourists.  Once he was one and a half years old, we were able to bring him to Elephant nature park where this lucky male elephant has never and will never have his spirit broken.

In his time at ENP, he has acquired many nannies in his early years but as he reached adolecense he developed a more serious interest in the females.  Now he shares a large, chain-free shelter with a younger bull Chang Yim, who is believed to be his son.  He is also the father of Dok Mai and Yindee.  Our hope is to release him to a large, forested and protected sanctuary space in the future.