The park loses a mahout

24June 2007

In Loving Memory of Etu

by Jodi Thomas

We are saddened to have to have to report the death of one of our mahouts due to a motorcycle accident on Saturday, June 2nd. Etu was with two other mahouts who work at the Park when the accident occurred. The other two mahouts were lucky to only sustain minor injuries.

Etu, the mahout of Mae Boon and Aura, had been working at Elephant Nature Park since last September. He was a lively young man with lots of energy and a unique sense of fashion. He had his signature haircut (a style you would see in a music video) and loved to wear tight fitting girl's t-shirts to show off his muscular physique. He strutted when he walked. He was quick to learn and soon picked up a lot of English and Thai so he could communicate with staff and visitors better. He was a favorite with many of the volunteers and visitors due to his positive interaction with Mae Boon and Aura and because of his personality.

Etu truly seemed proud to be the mahout of Mae Boon and Aura. He was doing a wonderful job with Aura's positive reinforcement training and she learned a lot while in his care. He was a good mahout who would always be ready for the morning walks when we needed him, and he would always be one of the first down to the river at bath times. He was patient with visitors and let them enjoy washing Mae Boon for as long as they liked.

As Etu was a Christian, Lek held a Buddhist and Christian memorial service at the Park. To lose this young man so early in life is a sad and unexpected loss for his family, the Park, Mae Boon, and Aura.

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