Mae Elu

Mae Elu is a female elephant who is thought to have been born sometime around 1950, although her exact age is unknown. Looking many years younger, she can be identified by the tush (small tusk) on her right side and very chubby cheeks. She loves baths in the river, often lingering when many of the other elephants have finished. Her true passion, however, is caring for baby elephants. Not part of any particular family group, she is currently acting as somewhat of a freelance auntie, doubtlessly in order to maximize her time with the infants.

Mae Elu’s passion for the young ones is easy to understand from her own tragic story. Like many of Thailand’s elephants, she worked as a logging elephant for many years. During this period, she gave birth to three baby elephants. Of these three, only one is still alive today - Mae Kah, currently employed in a trekking camp.

When logging became illegal in 1989, Mae Elu was forced into the trekking industry. She went through several periods of being heavily worked but also several periods of rest. For a long time her mahout was her owner’s son, who gave her ample time foraging in the jungle.

When her mahout had to return to school, Mae Elu was sent to a new trekking camp, under a new mahout. Here again she was worked very hard - seven to eight trekking trips a day, every day. Her new mahout was extremely inattentive, and either from malice or carelessness, would leave the howdah (the seat that carries tourists) on Mae Elu’s back for more than 24 hours. She started to show signs of pregnancy, and the new mahout was advised not to work her too hard. Mahouts make the majority of their money through tips, however, and this advice was not taken. At least once she was beaten because she walked too slowly. After a couple of months of this situation, Mae Elu gave birth prematurely. Her baby was a stillborn. Seven or eight months later, Pum met Mae Elu on Jumbo Express to that trekking camp. Her owner requested that she move to Elephant Nature Park, and Lek sent a team on the next Jumbo Express to collect her. Mae Elu has enjoyed her freedom at Elephant Nature Park ever since.

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