Rescued baby elephant from abuse (Faa Sai)

14 November 2007, Every year Elephant Nature Park arranges a trip to Surin elephant round up festival to meet with more than 200 elephants who come home to join  the festival.

Surin is the province that has most elephants in the country with over 60% of the elephant population in Thailand. Most of them work out side Surin, because the area is very dry and they cannot grow enough food. Many of them end up as street walkers, in circuses and shows and for tourist elephant riding.

The first day when we arrived at the camp we saw the man training his elephant. She is just a tiny female infant and her both legs were chained together. The owner forces her to show tricks to tourists as she struggles with the hobbles.

She is so skinny and appears to have mental problems with her head constantly shaking. She shows anger and impatience. Her mahout gave her food but she just threw it away. He told us the infant refuses food and water and screams loudly during the night . 

Both her eyes are infected and full of tears all the time and they open only half-way.

We decided to talk to the owner and try to rescue her, but the negotiations are very difficult and an exorbitant price is asked for the youngsters freedom.

First day we go back - no answer. The second day we go again to talk. The volunteers who with us at the trip as Antoinette van Walter  from Bring Elephant Home project, Marry , Cheryl , Magarette, pooled their money to start a rescue fund.

With the help of Sigle Rakins from World Woman Working, Nancy Abraham from Alexander Abraham  Foundation, Bert Von Roemer from Serengeti Foundation,  Miss Marry Cover, Miss Cheryl McMeekan, Margaret Steenduk, Ms Elly Muller, Grant Perera  and all donors who sent to Bert's fund we are able to bring her to the park and offer her a new secure home.

We also have more funding from Faa-Sai which we arrange to rescued one more elephant (Tara).

Today Faa Sai walks freely at Elephant Nature Park and she receives plenty of love here with her new family. Mother elephants have accepted and have already adopted her.
 
Welcome to your new home and hair-style!

"New home with us" mothers say as they adopt the new-comer

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