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Boon Rod came from the Northeast of Thailand. Her mahout take her to beg in the streets.
She started as an infant and has worked every day since. She is now 6 years old .
Her fate is the same as the other street elephants in Thailand. Boon Rod never had
the chance to live any other kind of life. Her mahout rents her from an elephant owner and takes her
to work each night, like a money making machine.
After the Thai government enacted policy to stop street elephants and push
them out from Bangkok the mahouts found it hard to make a living there. With
more than 200 elephant working along the streets throughout Thailand they needed
new locations and soon began looking for new destinations across the country. Chiang Mai
was one of their favoured destinations. The city, with visitors from throughout
the country and overseas, was deemed a good place to make money.
Since early 2005 Boon Rod's trudged the streets of Chiang Mai. She worked with
no time off. On the night of the 18th of July, as usual, she was forced out into
the night streets with her group. Together they sell bags of bananas and beg money from tourists.
Suddenly a car came from behind her and out stepped the police. They want to arrest the mahout because it is illegal to take
an elephant to work in the city. The mahout, expecting a normal night was
unprepared for this. He climbed on her neck and used the hook to force Boon Rod to run from the police. The hook hit
hard at her head and scraped behind her ears as he furiously urged her to run from the police car. The
siren sound and flashing lights from the car confused and startled her. Finally the mahout gave up, jumped from her
neck and ran, leaving her alone and helpless on the street. Without the directions from her mahout,
and on a strange highway road, she lost control. She ran out into the busy traffic, hitting
a motorcycle, a car and a post box. She ran through a busy street-side restaurant,
overturning tables and chairs creating chaos wherever she went. It was
now 11pm. Five hours had passed, and the police did not know how to handle
her. They contacted Elephant Nature Park and Chom, one of our mahouts who was in
Chiang Mai at the time, went to calm her down.
At the scene many people lodged claims for loss and damage of their property. The
glared at Boon Rod and were very angry that she had caused so much damage to
their property. Boon Rod stood shaking nervously with tears rolling down her
cheeks. She was alone, confused, afraid and in front of hundreds of angry strangers.
Blood ran from wounds behind her ears where the mahout has been stabbing her
with his hook as they tried to escape the police.
If she could express herself they would hear the pain from the bottom of her heart.
After she was arrested the police agreed to send her to our park until the mahout, or the owner, paid
a fine and for the damage.
On the way to the park she had to go to the police station where a picture
was taken for police records.
At the park she was welcomed by the herd. The mother and elder female
elephants gave her their unconditional love. She loves to swim in the
river with two young male elephants who have become her friends. Hope and Jungle boy
are a similar age to her. Later she saw our new baby elephant and she has become a sister. Mae Bua
Thong and three nanny
elephants accept her as a new herd member.
She so happy to taste the freedom of the park, the first freedom of her life.
In a couple days the owner will take her back to work. Begging and pounding
the busy roads
will become her daily life once more.
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Boon Rod with her new herd
Hello Boon Rod
Boon Rod with her new herd
Love for Boon Rod |
