Our recent rescued elephants, baby Chaba and her mother, Bunma. Their life changed after a few days living at Elephant Nature Park.

 

Due to the lack of income during this COVID crisis, everything is more difficult. The owner wants to sell some of his elephants so he could buy food for the elephants that still living with him at the camp. The owner has chosen to let this mother and baby go because he concerns about the baby’s health. They are a young mother and her first child. For that situation, the new mother have a difficulty when she lived alone without any support from the herd to take care her baby. The condition of the baby elephant was not so good, with a lower body weight than normal and her behavior is lethargic and abnormal.

 

The mother’s name is Bunma, who is 16 years old. She is too young to be a mother without helper or nanny. Before COVID-19 pandemic, she was employed in the elephant show, performing and painting at the camp. She gave birth in May of this year and her baby’s name is Chaba. Since giving birth, the mother elephant has been chained in a small kennel with her baby and clearly seen that she was living under stress. It is a difficult decision given this situation. During the days when we try hard to survive and mentally close the door to limit any others that might enter our gate, securing well the lives of all who dwell within. But, looking out that window, we see these eyes that beseech us and plead, “Just one more time. Take us home”.