An overview of our Rescues and other Projects
All the rescues and projects below are set out in chronological order and the reports were written at the time of the rescue - times change, babies grow up so for day to day stories of the adventures of our babies please check John's Rambling Elephant Blog.
Nong Pleum : Plai Tawan : Outreach Programmes : Nong Dah : Poon Larb and Lynchee : Nam Chok & Pumpui : Adopt a Vet : Lamyai & Meena : Makam & Nam Khong : Moskva, Musa & Riga : Manau: Sakura
Projects that have run their course
Pang Yom's Retirement
Pang Yom has returned to the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampsng for a full retirement close to the Elephant Hospital operated by the TECC there. The Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation was proud to support our favourite older lady from her retirement until March 2007 when the TECC decided she should return home. The money that had previously been assigned to Pang Yom will be now used to sponsor a vet (who will work three weeks a month at the hospital in Lampang) as part of our Newly Qualified Vet Elephant Experience Programme.
Quite possibly Thailand's best loved elephant, one of her daughters is now a favourite in Lampang and has Royal connections, Yom herself has friends from all over - as well as many new ones gained whilst at Anantara.
Yom was with the Anantara Camp since the beginning and has reached the age where she should permanently retire - she will stayed with us in camp until the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre decide she should be close to the Hospital, as we have plenty of good natural fodder as well the wherewithal to keep her in the luxuries of life.
The Government vet has checked her out and decided that a little light work from time to time would be good for her so we will probably allow her to continue her role as trainer of children and nervous adults.
As the camp Grandmother (she has retired once already but apparently got bored in the forests of Lampang so they sent her back to us) she keeps herself removed from the other elephants and keeps a stern eye on the Foundation babies.
The Mae Nam Yom is a beautiful, forested river and it must have been on her banks that Yom was born all those years ago, an old 'arrow' logging brand on her rear points skyward and to the fact that she has lead a life of graft before her good character bought her into the Government breeding scheme and thence, as the years wore on, to their mahout training scheme.
She seems to be madly in love with her long time mahout, K. Jamrat, but will teach the rookie mahout with patience and a little back chat as long as he is around! K. Nai also helps out and almost gets the same devotion, time will prove.
Mor Pongpon Homkong D.V.M.
Our first 'adopted' vet, Dr Pongpon (or Mor Pap as he is usually known) has left us after his year's training to work with the Royal White Elephant Stables in Lampang as well as help out at the Elephant Hospital in Lampang - in the same manner he did when he was working for us.
He spent a good year with us, useful for our elephants as they and the mahouts recieved the benefits of his training and advice but, we hope, equally useful for the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre elephants and those treated he free of charge at the hospital.
He represented the Foundation at several conferences and symposia as well as taking and manning the mobile clinic to this year's Elefantasia Elephant Festival in Laos giving free care - assisting the Elefantasia vets - to the 20 elephants there and controlling a case of aggresive musth.
Towards the end of his tenure with us, and frequently today, his time with us and the tutelage of the TECC vets allow him to be the controlling vet on site at the TECC hospital.
He is replaced by our new vet, Mor Cherry.
