Flashback Friday 15 September 2023: Medo’s Life Before & After Rescue
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. A bull going into musth was chained with her but she did not want him to mount her and tried to turn away or kick him. He attacked her, leaving her left hip dislocated.
When Medo could no longer work, her owner tried to lease her to many logging camps, but no one wanted her. Finally, one village headman agreed to rent her, where she served as the village tractor. She pulled the logs if they needed to build a house, or a school, or a temple. When she wasn’t working, she was chained. She lived like this for 7 years until Lek found her and rescued her from this miserable existence.
Medo was rescued by Save Elephant Foundation in July 2006 and came to start a new life at Elephant Nature Park. Medo has learned to live with her condition and people need not feel sorry for her. She can climb the hill on the other side of the river, play in the mud, and she can lay down get up easily on both sides.
Medo once lived with her two best friends, Mae Lanna and SaoYai. But the climb up the mountain eventually became too much for her and she developed friendships with SookJai (who has since passed away) and Gemsai, with whom she enjoys that company. She is a calm, easy-going elephant with an indomitable spirit, enjoying her life in the sanctuary of the park.
To learn more about beautiful Medo and how you can support her at Elephant Nature Park, please visit the link below;
