Get to know these
GENTLE GIANTS
KRABI
Lao Thong Chaba
Thai Name
English Name
Gender
Age
Features
Rescue Date
Prior Life
Likes / Dislikes
Lao Thong Chaba
Golden Spear
Female
41, As at 2023
Short back legs
25th December 2023
Tourism and logging
Loves food
Lao Thong Chaba’s life has been marked by hardship. Working in the tourism industry before being forced to haul heavy logs. This gruelling work has taken its toll on her body, the constant pressure on her underdeveloped legs likely caused her immense pain. Poor nutrition has caused damage to her teeth, resulting in an inability to chew her food adequately. Her mahout supports her with this, spending hours grinding food supplements each day. She is now free to enjoy a new life but the transition hasn’t been easy. Chaba struggles with trust and she has found it difficult to bond with the herd, but we hope her mahout will give her the confidence to find friendship.
Thong Poon
Thai Name
English Name
Gender
Age
Features
Rescue Date
Prior Life
Likes / Dislikes
Thong Poon
Prosperity
Female
61, As at 2024
Pink spotty ears
24th February 2024
Riding and logging
Likes swimming
Thong Poon is a free spirit and a testament to the resilience of elephants. Despite being in her later years and spending her life in tourism, and more recently, 10 years in logging, she still has the confidence to make her own choices. Thong Poon’s bond with her mahout, her companion for eight years, remains strong. Food holds a special place in her heart, giving her the energy to explore the world around her. Now a contented elephant, Thong Poon regularly sleeps a little longer, a luxury she never knew before. She can even be found letting out a little snore.
Thong Aek
Thai Name
English Name
Gender
Age
Features
Rescue Date
Prior Life
Likes / Dislikes
THONG AEK
The best
Male
46, As at 2024
Short tusks & broken spine
24th February 2024
Riding and logging
Likes his mahout
Thong Aek’s life has been a struggle, he arrived at the sanctuary with harsh evidence of his past. His tusks were cut short, a reminder of the ivory trade, and a nasty abscess on his front right leg, a painful consequence of an injury working in the logging industry. He has visual and mental scars from his time as a riding elephant, like many elephants, Thong Aek suffered a broken vertebra from the constant weight and pressure on his backbones. This injury may continue to cause discomfort, but with our care, we hope he will live a full and happy life.
Boon Young
Thai Name
English Name
Gender
Age
Features
Rescue Date
Prior Life
Likes / Dislikes
Boon Young
Merit/ Good fortune
Female
35, As at 2024
Lots of pink freckles on her face
6th April 2024
Riding and Bathing
Likes watermelon!
Meet Boon Young, a gentle soul whose spirit shines despite past hardships of forced interactions with strangers. For a period of time, Boon Young was a riding elephant, arriving at our sanctuary with visible signs of wear. While physically unharmed, the toll on her mental well-being is evident as she appears older than her actual age.
Boon Young is now growing more comfortable and begins to reclaim control over her life. As she is no longer forced into unnatural situations, she is free to explore at her own pace. We eagerly anticipate the day when she rediscovers her passions, embarking on a journey of self-fulfillment in her newfound sanctuary home.
