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Date of Birth

Approx 1965

Gender

Female

Age at Rescue

50 Years Old

Rescue Location

Surin Central Thailand

Rescue Date

17 January 2015

Herd / Friends

Mho Jae / Sa Ngae

SookSai at Elephant Nature Park

Originally from Mae Sariang, born approximately 1965, with Karen hill tribe owners, SookSai has been moved all around Thailand and has passed from owner to owner about 15 times.

She began her working life in legal and illegal logging. SookSai eventually ended up in the south of Thailand working as a trekking elephant.

In 2011 she lost her footing going up a hill and broke her ankle. She was in recovery for one and a half years, after which she was forced to resume trekking, even though her ankle did not heal properly and buckled under her weight causing her to walk on the side of her foot. As a result, she limped. Tourists who she carried complained about the unstable, wobbly ride.

Because of the complaints, her trekking days ended. But her working days did not.

Next, she became a street begging elephant. This was also short lived because people DID complain about her injured foot and walking on the hard concrete. The mahout did not enjoy being criticized all the time so he took her back home.

Sadly, SookSai’s days of exploitation and abuse were far from over…

As is the norm for many a female elephant who have a break which prohibits them from working, she was put in a ‘forced breeding program’. There are many methods of forced breeding – and it happens all around the world, not just in Thailand.

Baby elephants are a valuable commodity, one which handicapped females can produce for their owners when other means of employment are not an option. BUT – quite often the stress of the injury and the long recovery causes the female’s estrous cycle to fall dormant. Sadly, determined owners will often disregard this possibility, instead choosing to force their elephant to withstand multiple mating incidents over a course of days, weeks and sometimes months.

Like so many other elephants, SookSai did not become pregnant. Her owner became frustrated and mostly abandoned her. She stood chained to a tree with barely any room to move, a wall of her own dung slowly rising around her. She often went without food and water because of her owner’s lack of interest in her. Thankfully, she was brought to our attention and her life of solitary sadness could come to an end.

Please scroll through their history and consider sponsoring SookSai

Flashback Friday: Nanny SookSai’s Life Before and After Rescue
Flashback Friday: Nanny SookSai’s Life Before and After Rescue

Not so long ago, a mother and child were rescued from Omkoi district, Thailand. Their names are Mho Jae and…
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Nanny SookSai is always on guard as Sa Ngae plays in the river
Sa Ngae's Family Enjoying a Lovely Day by the River

Baby Sa Ngae is having a blast in the water with his mom, MhoJae, as well as nanny, SookSai. Fortified…
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Family fun with baby Sa Ngae
Family fun with baby Sa Ngae

Baby Sa Ngae and his mother Mho Jae are becoming more and more confident each day with the support of…
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How many elephants does it take to make a happy family?
How many elephants does it take to make a happy family?

That's a very easy question to answer in this particular scene. Mho Jae and her baby Sa Ngae's life has…
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Witness the incredible journey of trust for a rescued elephant family of Mho Jae and Sa Ngae
Mho Jae's incredible journey of trust in the sanctuary of elephant nature park

Witness the transformation for yourself in the heartwarming video below. We're delighted to see MhoJae basking in the joy of…
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Baby Elephant Sa Ngae and Nanny Sooksai enjoy Muddy Fun
Baby Elephant Sa Ngae and Nanny Sooksai enjoy Muddy Fun at Elephant Nature Park Elephant Sanctuary in Chiang Mai

It’s the rainy season here in Thailand and all the rain helps create wonderful muddy fun for the herd. Baby…
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Baby Sa Ngae turns the water tank into his little swimming pool!
Baby Sa Ngae turns the water tank into his little swimming pool!

Baby Sa Ngae turns the water tank into his little swimming pool! Adorable baby Sa Ngae sure knows how to…
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Rescued elephants building new family bonds Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary
Rescued elephants building new family bonds in the sanctuary of Elephant Nature Park

During a period of quarantine to adapt to their new environment, Mho Jae had the privilege of receiving an unrelenting…
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Early morning scenes at Elephant Nature Park
Early morning at Elephant Nature Park

FaaMai has long since learned that if she refuses to go back to the shelter at the end of the…
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Sa Ngae’s first swim
Recently rescued baby elephant Sa Ngae takes his first swim in the river. This isn't just bathing in the shallows, this is deep water. But look at the care and protection his mother & nanny give him.

Recently rescued baby elephant Sa Ngae takes his first swim in the river. This isn't just bathing in the shallows,…
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SookSai Presents Herself To Be A Nanny For Newly Rescued Baby Sa Ngae
SookSai wants to be a nanny of newly rescued baby elephant Sa Ngae.jpg

There is a wonderful story to be seen in this video, showing the start of a relationship between a baby…
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Mho Jae with her baby Sa Ngae and nanny SookSai free roam at Elephant Nature Park
Mho Jae has graduated to free roaming, together with Sa Ngae and nanny SookSai

Mho Jae and Sa Ngae, Mother and baby keep growing in confidence. Seen here with nanny Sooksai, free roaming in…
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Rescued Elephant Mho Jae shows signs of relaxing with SookSai
MhoJae begins to relax in SookSai's presence, and they care for Sa Ngae togethe

Today we see 20 year old Mho Jae beginning to relax in the company of SookSai, as they both care…
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Elephant Of The Week : SookSai
Navann play with Sook Sai

Sook Sai means "Pure Happiness". She worked in logging, trekking and street begging. She has had 15 different owners. During…
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SookSai is falling in love with our cutie elephant, Navaan.
SookSai is falling in love with our cutie elephant, Navaan.

SookSai still trying to get a relationship with Navaan. She still not get accept from the herd to join the…
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Navaan and SookSai attraction, the two elephant playmates are showing their wonderful relationship.
Navaan and SookSai attraction, the two elephant playmates are showing their wonderful relationship.

While SookSai is still not accepted by the group to join the Navann’s Nanny team, she always finds a short…
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SookSai always be in company with Navaan, they play together even in early morning.
SookSai always be in company with Navaan, they play together even in early morning.

Navaan has found his playmate SookSai. They spend early morning hours playing on the sand pile. We are so glad…
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Navaan and his new nanny, SookSai
Navaan and his new nanny, SookSai

Navaan likes to play rough and when he plays with the other young ones, as KhunDej or YinDee their nannies…
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Happy SookSai, she looks much better and showing how she enjoy the mud spa.
Happy SookSai, she looks much better and showing  how she enjoy the mud spa.

Do you remember SookSai first arrived at Elephant Nature Park ? She appeared with the weakness and unhealthy condition, there…
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Navaan using his cuteness to heal his newest Nanny SookSai.
Navaan using his cuteness to heal his newest Nanny SookSai.

Navaan can be the naughty boy sometimes and make the nanny work hard all day, but he is mostly so…
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