Mae Boon

Much of Mae Boon’s story, like so many others, is mostly unknown. Her last place of work was at a trekking camp not far from Elephant Nature park. In July 2005 she gave birth to a tiny baby girl, Aura. The two of them have been with us since Dec 2005 when her owner requested that we offer Aura a healthy childhood. With luck Lek will be able to arrange for them both to stay indefinitely.

At the trekking camp, Mae Boon was performing in shows and carrying tourists up and down a mountain. She worked long hours, and during the 15 years spent there she never gave birth, until Aura. At that time Mae Boon was extremely frail and malnourished. The owner sent her away from work to have her baby at the Lampang Animal Hospital.

Shortly after entering the world, Aura also became extremely frail and sick. While in Lampang, Aura cut the top of her trunk and her tongue by reaching through a fence trying to grab something. She still has a scar on her trunk. Afraid that the baby would not survive, the owner requested a move to the Elephant Nature Park, to which Lek gladly agreed.

It turns out that Mae Boon is an old friend of Jokia’s. Back in the days before moving into the park, Jokia was more often at the Elephant Haven. Lek also allowed trekking elephants to come visit and relax in the jungle, and so they had met. With Mae Boon having her baby Aura with her, and Jokia a close companion of Mae Perm, the two did not reform any strong bond. There was however, quite a stir amongst the herd the moment Mae Boon arrived. All the elephants gathered around them and spent hours trumpeting, rumbling and squeaking as they welcomed the herds newest arrivals.

Mae Dta Keow, usually prefering solicitude took a liking to Aura and offered her services as an auntie elephant. At first Mae Boon rejected her but persistence paid off and now the three of them are a tight family unit. Mae Boon and Mae Dta Keow are now never more than a few feet away from little Aura.

Aura is growing into a healthy and playful young elephant. Each day after bath-time she undergoes positive reinforcement based training with her mahout. She is slowly learning the commands normally taught through pajaan, but with a big difference. Instead of beatings or psychological abuse she is rewarded with bananas.

05th March 2009 was a painful day for all at the park. It was a day that all of us knew was eminent, but hoped would never come. Our beloved long-term leased mother and daughter, Mae Boon and Aura, were finally taken back by their owners after 3 years of freedom and fun at Elephant Nature Park. It was incredibly sad to see them being forced onto the truck.

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