Here’s a nice story for you…
Lek, the founder of the Elephant Nature Park rescued a little 5 year old elephant called Mae-Boi from a circus where he had already been trained to paint for tourists which he did all day, every day.
A few months later she rescued an adult female elephant called Mae-Yui and returned her to the hilltribe community, in Si Phum, Mueang Chiang Mai District to which she belonged, in doing so setting up the Journey To Freedom project that we have just spent the week with. When Lek first met Mae Yui, she asked the owners if she’d ever had any babies to which she was told that yes, she’d had one baby called Mae Boi, who was sold to the circus. The very same Mae Boi who the ENP had rescued not long before!
So as soon as possible the ENP took Mae Boi on the four-day journey on foot to Si Phum where eventually they could reunite Mum and baby after over two years apart.
Yo was there for the reunion, and he said it was simply magical to watch. They were both extremely cautious at first, and both seemed very nervous to approach the other, not quite knowing if the other was in fact their missing relative. Then, after a painstakingly long half hour, they finally approached each other and from that moment on have been inseperable. Mae Yui has fully adopted her old role as mum and Mae Boi has slipped back into being the baby. They are so beautiful to see together, and Mae Buncy the other adult female in their littler rescued herd acts as a surrogate aunty, both watching out for the little one. It really is heart-wrenching watching this wonderful little family unit together.
Yo was there for the reunion, and he said it was simply magical to watch. They were both extremely cautious at first, and both seemed very nervous to approach the other, not quite knowing if the other was in fact their missing relative. Then, after a painstakingly long half hour, they finally approached each other and from that moment on have been inseperable. Mae Yui has fully adopted her old role as mum and Mae Boi has slipped back into being the baby. They are so beautiful to see together, and Mae Buncy the other adult female in their littler rescued herd acts as a surrogate aunty, both watching out for the little one. It really is heart-wrenching watching this wonderful little family unit together.
Here's Mae Boi and Mai Yui together
...and here are just some pictures of the elephants foraging in the jungle...
If you want to volunteer here too, have a look on the website here
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