Samui Elephant Sanctuary

This is Kham Noi now, After 6 years of sanctuary life with us 🤍 🌿
She was born in 1960 and forced to work in the logging industry near Mae Sot, Thailand, until the logging ban in 1989. Following this, she was put to work in a riding camp in Chiang Mai, giving tourists rides for three long decades. So intense was the work, she was still giving rides the day we rescued her 💔
Today, we're reflecting on her journey and how evident it is that Kham Noi's body and mind are feeling the benefits of sanctuary life. She is even starting to spend more and more time with Jamie and Bua Toom.
Follow for updates on their friendship! 🐘🩶

After half a century of abuse and exploitation, Bua Toom, Jamie, and Kham Noi have been rescued, brought to Samui Elephant Sanctuary, and have now formed a firm friendship 🤎 Playing in the mud together is a strong bonding social interaction within herds, and it puts a smile on our faces everytime they gather to do this. 🐘

This hot weather has got us all wishing for water and mud baths! 🤎

It's time to normalise observing elephants bathing, and end hands-on bathing. Here, Lam Yai enjoys the freedom of exploring the water alone.

The tourist activity of elephant bathing is where tourists wash elephants in mud, water and soap. It is not ethical, and is harmful to the elephants' skin. Furthermore, animals treated as tourism props can become stressed, stripped from their natural behaviours.

You may have seen the news that, tragically, a woman and elephant were recently killed in Dubare Elephant Camp in southern India, during this tourist activity. This is a firm reminder of the urgent need for all elephant bathing to ended.