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No one knows exactly the whole story of Mae Perm though research showed
that her mother was from Burma and she had come to stay to work as a
logging elephant in the jungles along the border of Thailand and Burma.
Mae Perm's had so many owners and was constantly moving around
throughout Thailand. Her birth certificate and documents show that she
never stayed in one place for very long.
She never felt safe which, we assume, is why she never reproduced. Mae
Perm retuned to the same places again and again, but with difference
owners at different times. Her journeys had her travelling throughout
the length and breadth of Thailand.
She has been owned by a poor Karen tribal family, a
British logging company and a rich family who kept her in their back
yard
as
a
show-piece to their guests. Some times she was happy because
people treated her well but she was mostly unhappy because she had to
stay in a very limited area and missed real nutrition and healthy food.
Lek had been trying to find Mae-Perm, but having little success, until
the owner finally contacted her. She and the veterinarian found that
Mae-Perm had big problems with her digestive system. They bought
and transported her back home, so
Mae-Perm became Lek's first rescued elephant.
The first of many.
Mae-Perm is now 89-years old, but still looking
very young. She has become a great Ambassador for elephants and eagerly
demonstrates the love from elephant to human beings. She is the kindest,
gentlest elephant on earth, and loves everybody around her. She makes
babies enjoy being around her and has a delightful gentle touch. She
radiates her love to people with her gentle eyes and charm. She loves to
be with humans as much as she wants to spend time in the jungle. For too
many years she was not able to live the life she enjoys now.
Today she roams freely in the jungle at Elephant
Haven. Although she had lost her last set of teeth, (elephant grow six
during a lifetime) which generally determines the end of an elephants
life. She wants, so much, to live in this place, and so she did an
extraordinary thing. She produced a new set of teeth!
We hope that Mae- Perm will live much longer, and
become the first great grand-mother elephant in Thailand.
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