Kanjana and FahMui were delighted to see FaaMai come to join with their afternoon swim, but FaaMai brought 2 companions, ThongAe and MuayLek. Kanjana is very protective of her old friend FahMui, and so she gave the new little girl whom she hadn’t met before, a thorough investigation. MuayLek stayed as close to FaaMai as she possibly could.
Kanjana was found trapped in a pit during the fire season. She was just a baby and had fallen into it, breaking her ankle and her legs were badly burned from coals that had collected in the hole. Locals heard her cries and pulled her out. Her family was never found and she eventually became a logging elephant in the Pai area, until the days of trekking began. Her early injuries did not make her a good candidate for either logging or service riding, and we took her away from all of that.
Beautiful story from our Founder – Saengduean Lek Chailert: In July of this year we rescued FahMui from southern Thailand, and a week later we rescued Kanjana who came from Pai. They were introduced on arrival, and an unexpected deep bond readily formed between them, so much so that they sheltered together right from the start. It seems likely that Fahmui became the mother who Kanjana never had.
Newly rescued FahMui is slowly realising the freedom and making friends in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park. From our founder, Lek Chailert: FahMui is friendly enough and still looking to find new friends. So far, she has a kinship with Kanjana, and they while away the day eating in the shade of a giant tree.
Update from Lek on FahMui and Kanjana, the latest Save Elephant Foundation rescued elephants, now living in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park. As we believe that elephants belong to the herd, when we have new arrival we slowly introduce them to potential friends. FahMui and Kanjana have their sleeping shelters across the river, they already get along well.
Kanjana enjoying her freedom at Elephant Nature Park. Kanjana is now wandering freely in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park, finally living as all elephants should, not tethered, not working for humans and able to meet with other elephants as friends and family in a herd.
Today 19 July 2018, Kanjana, the newly rescued elephant from Pai, finally experiences freedom in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park, the place she can call home for ever. These words are taken from a facebook post made by Save Elephant Foundation and Elephant Nature Park founder Lek Chailert the day after the rescue as she reflects on the final rescue of Kanjana: Another life has been set free from work today. Her story has been known to us for some time now. More than 10 years ago, i met her and learned her story. We have tried to help her since that day, but the owner would not release her and she continued to carry tourists for many years since, even though I followed her with interest every year.
Kanjana has both hind legs injured when she was young. Born captive, her mother worked in a logging camp. After work, the mahout would let the mother and child out to walk in the jungle. The mother would drag a chain while her baby walked free. During a walk, the young Kanjana fell into a hole after a fire had just burned the forest. Hot coals were still in the hole. She tried to escape, and witnesses say that her mother tried to help. Not until people noticed was she able to get out