The plight of Thailand’s captive elephants have been of great concern over the past two years, as tourism dollars have disappeared and many mahouts and business owners of elephants struggle to feed and care for them.
Today we have a rare piece of good news.
Mae Sa Elephant Camp, the north’s oldest elephant camp which started 45 years ago, announced today that a generous donor has just given them eight million baht to care for their elderly elephants.
According to Anchalee Kalmapichit, managing director of the camp, Mae Sa Elephant Camp currently cares for 70 elephants, 16 of which are over the age of 60. Eight of those are now fully retired, with one elephant. Plai Kham Meun being the oldest at 85 years.
Ekachai Savetsomphob, CEO of Sino-Pacific Trading (Thailand) Co., Ltd. has been a regular visitor at Mae Sa Elephant Camp over the years and had formed an attachment to many elephants. He has, this week, donated eight million baht to Mae Sa Elephant Camp, slated to be used to build and run an old elephants’ home.
This home will not only house elderly elephants, preparing them healthy vitamin-laden food that is easy to chew and digest, but will also provide an emergency clinic with full medical support.
Anchalee says that she hopes that Thais will become more aware of the plight of our elephants and perhaps help sustain the much needed tourism to support elephants during these times.