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Date of Birth

2016

Gender

Female

Age at Rescue

1 Year Old

Rescue Location

Street Begging

Rescue Date

August 2017

Herd / Friends

ThongAe Herd

ThongAe is a female elephant born as a result of forced breeding, whereby her mother was chained while the male elephant was coerced to mate with her.

ThongAe stayed with her mother in the trekking camp for just five short months, after which she was sold and trained to be a street begging elephant. It was during this time that several people witnessed the mahout abusing her in a busy market place. As a result of this incident there was a public outcry and a report made to the authorities.

ThongAe’s owner decided to move her immediately to Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand to avoid prosecution. In Chiang Mai, she was forced into an elephant show and riding camp, where she was forced to perform demeaning tricks to entertain tourists. It was here that an older elephant adopted ThongAe and tried to care for her as her nanny. Tragically, ThongAe’s nanny died from exhaustion whilst carrying tourists on her back. Lek heard about ThongAe’s plight and was determined to rescue her.

In August 2017, Lek convinced the owner to allow ThongAe to come to Elephant Nature Park so that she could recover from the trauma of her past and her poor physical health.

ThongAe was quickly adopted by several nannies and her health began to improve in this new environment of love and care. In March 2019, Lek received the dreaded call from the owner to say that they wanted to sell ThongAe back to the circus and they would buy two older elephants for riding. Luckily, we were able to convince the owner to allow ThongAe to stay at Elephant Nature Park permanently with her many nannies and friends. ThongAe continues to thrive in her forever home at Elephant Nature Park.

Thong Ae
Thong Ae

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Peaceful Afternoon Atmosphere at Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary

Peaceful Afternoon Atmosphere at Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary
16/09/2023

Rain is always welcome on hot days and the weather becomes refreshing. But Malee knows that when the skies clear,…Read More

Green Season Mud Spa Heaven at Elephant Nature Park

Green Season Mud Spa Heaven at Elephant Nature Park
07/09/2023

Green Season in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand, brings happiness in many forms to elephants enjoying the sanctuary of Elephant Nature…Read More

The scent of a friend brings great excitement to WanMai

The scent of a friend brings great excitement to WanMai at Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary
15/08/2023

It's fascinating to observe how elephants like WanMai and her family are not only aware of their surroundings but also…Read More

Thong Ae: Our Charming Social Butterfly!

Thong Ae: Our Charming Social Butterfly!
10/08/2023

Thong Ae's unwavering enthusiasm, resilience, and the warmth she brings to every interaction are truly heartwarming. Her charming character and…Read More

Elephant of the Week 7 August 2023: Elephant Ambassador FaaMai

Elephant of the Week 7 August 2023: FaaMai - The Ambassador at Elephant Nature Park Sanctuary
07/08/2023

She is often the critical link of fostering positive bonds between disparate groups of elephants. In this video, FaaMai can…Read More

MuayLek is now enjoying the river at Elephant Nature Park with many friends

MuayLek is now enjoying the river at Elephant Nature Park with many friends
20/07/2023

MuayLek and FaaMai spend a lot of time with the ThongAe family. They have so much fun together. Even after…Read More

Elephant MuayLek gains confidence with help of her friends taking her first mud bath

muaylek gains confidence taking her first mud bath at elephant nature park
18/07/2023

MuayLek is enjoying her first mud bath as the monsoon season begins in earnest, granting the mud pit a new…Read More

Kanjana and FahMui were delighted to see FaaMai come to join with their afternoon swim

Kanjana and FahMui were delighted to see FaaMai come to join with their afternoon swim
15/07/2023

Kanjana and FahMui were delighted to see FaaMai come to join with their afternoon swim, but FaaMai brought 2 companions,…Read More

Flashback Friday:ThongAe

14/07/2023

Below is a post originally posted by our founder Saengduean Lek Chailert to Save Elephant Foundation Facebook page 17 April…Read More

This happens every time Lek walks among the elephants at Elephant Nature Park

This event happens every time Lek walks among the elephants at Elephant Nature Park
01/07/2023

Our founder Saengduean Lek Chailert consistently find time to visit the park in her busy schedule and always enjoys walking…Read More

How the rescued elephant enjoy life in Elephant Nature Park

Jokia Elephant Nature Park
08/06/2023

Mae Kheow Former Trekking Elephant Has The Sweetest Reaction To Their New Friend. Mae Kheow endured many years as a…Read More

PaiLin joins with Jokia and baby ThongAe

24/06/2021

PaiLin (Sapphire) is an 45 years old elephant was recently rescued together with KaiMook from a trekking camp in Kanchanaburi.…Read More

Baby ThongAe and DokMai running and playing cheerfully.

22/04/2020

Girls enjoying their daily life playing together freely and happily. ThongAe and DokMai are best friends. They are surrounded by love of their elephant nannies and we see and feel it. We wish to send you a message of happiness from our herd to lighten your day in these troubled times.

ThongAe having a special intimacy with SriPrae

17/01/2018

Baby ThongAe came to Elephant Nature Park in the middle of 2017 with her nannies, Khun Yai and Jenny. Three…Read More

Pikun & Khun Yai start their relationship

Pikul & Khun Yai start their relationship
08/06/2017

Most elephants that Save Elephant Foundation rescue come from work environments and have served humans for many decades. Most of…Read More

Rescue of 3 elephants for safety reasons – arrival of Jenny , Thong Ae and Khun Yai

Rescue of 3 elephants for safety reasons
30/05/2017

A grand welcome to three new girls to the sanctuary our Park: an Old grand mother named Khun Yai (70+…Read More

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