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
Nong Dah
Nong Dah, or Pang Melindah (but we like the Thai name - real name Pang Kam Saen), came to us at four years old.
She came directly from the Patpong and Silom area of Bangkok where she had been walking the streets at night selling bananas and posing for photos, it is a tiring life for both mahout and elephant with scant reward (particularly for the elephant). At four years old she had never seen the jungle before - always used to concrete and tarmac - but our fears she may be scared were quickly dispelled as, being an elephant, she saw our forest as an huge larder and tried to out eat any nerves she may have had.
Nong Dah is the first elephant to have heard of us through the street ele grape vine and to actually contact us in need of rescue - well the family that owns her really, though a city girl she hasn't got the hang of mobiles yet - and when I took her story to Four Seasons management they immediately agreed to support both ele and mahout.
Nong Dah Update - April 2008
Dah is still with us and is one of the unsung heroes of the camp, she's still a little jumpy of all things but, after a long fling with Plai Tawan which involved lots of elopement and intelligent running, she's settled down to be friends with Pang Poon Larb, Lynchee's Mum, another nervous elephant.
Never having had a proper childhood she is happy to get involved in the smaller babies games but is always aware of her advanced strength and never abuses it - though she is going through a phase of trying to climb on top of Lynchee when bathing.
Dah is looked after by K. Som - Lung Lord's son.
Nong Dah Links
