Warunee was born around 1959. Her life followed the tragic path of so many captive elephant before her. She was separated from her mother at a very young age and trained to work in the hauling logs in the forest. Warunee was then moved to the elephant trekking camp providing rides day in, day out with no rest. In June 2015, Warunee was rescued from the elephant trekking camp in Kanchanaburi and came to Elephant Nature Park. She quickly settled into her new life, retired from work and able to socialize with her own kind. Warunee has developed many strong bonds within the Kham La herd and her best friend is Dao Ruang.

Rattana Kham is one of the lucky ones. She was helped by Pra Arjarn Moche, who provided the donation allowing her freedom, and by Warattada “Meow” Pattarodom who organised funds for her shelter so she could be cared for in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park for the rest of her life. Located near Elephant Nature Park, her 4.5 KM walk which took 4 hours was a quite a journey to freedom in itself. It was the first time she didn’t have a chain around her neck or ankle. Shortly into the walk, Lek, Meow and the ENP team noticed something very wrong in her gait and movements – walking so so slowly and stopping only after three to five steps. She was also famished and foraging on everything in her path, even foliage elephants don’t normally eat.

Pookie worked in the logging industry until this was banned by the Thai government in 1989. Her owner at that time tried to find a means of deriving an income from Pookie and she was forced back into illegal logging. Following her work in the logging industry she was moved to an elephant trekking camp. Pookie was rescued in June 2015 and came to live at Elephant Nature Park.

She was born at an elephant riding and show camp as a result of forced breeding. At a very young age she was tied to her mother whilst she gave rides to tourists. Manao and her mother were then separated so the mahout (keeper) could start the process of breaking her spirit to force her to perform demeaning tricks and carry people on her back. Manao was rescued along with 19 other elephants in early June 2015. She has an adopted nanny named Mae Malee.

He was rescued at 18 months old. His mother was allowed to stay with him at Elephant Nature Park for one year, so he could continue nursing. Sadly, they did not want to let go of Mae Boon Na and she was eventually taken back to work. Jungle Boy, or otherwise and now known as Thong Suk, acquired a few nannies in his early years, but as he grew older he developed a more serious interest in the females. He is the father of both Dok Mai and Yindee.

Hope was born in August 2000. Hope’s mother was a trekking elephant who was forced to stop working due to illness. Hope and his mother were moving to stay in forest near the owner’s home in the hope that the return to her natural environment would aid her recovery. Sadly, this was not the case and she died. Hope was weak and needed special care. His owner could not afford to buy the milk formula needed to sustain him at such a young age. They contacted our founder, Lek, and asked if she would take care of him.

Chang Yim was born at Elephant Nature Park on July 12, 2009. His name means Smiling Elephant. His mother is Dok Ngern and he has a little sister named Dok Mai. He is the second baby ever to be born and conceived at Elephant Nature Park from resident elephants. Chang Yim has not had his spirit broken and is trained using positive reinforcement target training so that we can perform any medical or husbandry care necessary. Chang Yim is a very lucky bull elephant as he will never have to do any kind of work. We hope that in the future we will be able to release him into a semi-wild forested area where he can reach his full potential.

Mae Baitoey (แม่ใบเตย) was born around 1976. She spent most of her life working in the trekking industry, catering to tourists who desired to ride her. During her time at the trekking camp in Kanchanburi, the owners also exploited her for forced breeding. In 2011, she gave birth to a baby girl named Kham La. Despite the profound bond between mother and baby, they were forcibly separated, and the owner subjected Kham La to cruel training for performing in an elephant show. Fortunately, we were able to rescue Kham La and reunite her with her mother, Baitoey, bringing them both to Elephant Nature Park for a fresh start.

ThongAe is a female elephant born as a result of forced breeding, whereby her mother was chained while the male elephant was coerced to mate with her.

Mae Sri Nuan was born around 1962, and was rescued from Surin Province, along with Dok Ngern, in late 2005. She was brought to ENP to begin her recovery from the trauma of her past. Sri Nuan’s life followed the tragic path of so many other captive elephants, being forced to work in the logging industry, followed by street begging, and working at a trekking camp providing rides.

Medo began working at a very young age and her first job was in illegal logging. While pulling a heavy log, Medo broke her right ankle. Her ankle did not heal properly and she couldn’t continue this work. She was still young and healthy so she was put into a forced breeding program. Medo was chained by her front legs in a small space.

KhamLa (darling) was born in 2011. At that time, her mother was working at a trekking camp in Kanchanaburi. KhamLa was separated from her mother and put through phajaan to break her spirit so that she would submit to the will of humans. She was then subjected to the cruel training process endured by elephants who perform in shows.