— Mae Bua Kham —
Mae Bua Kham’s exact age is unknown but she is certainly well past 70. Her name means ‘Golden Lotus’ in the northern Thai dialect. She is does not belong to Lek nor is she a leased elephant. Her story is a unique and heartwarming one that we hope to hear more of in the future.
She arrived at Elephant Nature Park on February 9th, after her owner contacted Lek. Realizing her working years were well past, he asked Lek if Mae Bua Kham could come to stay at the Park for the remainder of her life and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of no work and grazing in the grass all day. He did not ask for a monthly lease fee, and wasn’t interested in trying to sell her to get one last bit of money out of her, which is commonplace. He was just happy to give her freedom for the rest of her days.
Now settled in at the Park, she has became a volunteer and visitor favorite. She has a gentle easygoing personality. She is beautiful in that stately old elephant way. Mae Bua Kham arrived extremely thin, with her ribs showing, from not getting any supplemental feedings where she last stayed. Here, it is our main goal to fatten her up. She only has bits of two teeth left, and they are worn to smooth stumps, so she is lovingly fed soft ripe bananas by eager volunteers who are happy to cater to her special needs.
She gets around well, as she has no old injuries, so she is happy to wander the park looking for tender young grasses and leaves. She also likes to hang around the main hut, hoping to get the extra fruit or vegetables that might be found for her after feeding time as she knows she is hard to resist. Going to the river is also one of Mae Bua Kham’s favorite activities, she enjoys the scrubbing and splashing as it cools and refreshes her.
As you look at her, it is hard not to imagine all the stories she could tell, and how full her life has been. It is wonderful that she has finally found herself at the Park, where everyone who meets Mae Bua Kham are eager to give her all the love and special attention she deserves.
To learn more about the histories and personalities of our elephants, please click on any of the links below.
