Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary (BLES)

BOON LOTT'S ELEPHANT SANCTUARY

Located in Northern Thailand, Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary (BLES) is passionately devoted to creating a safe and natural environment for Thai elephants. BLES is the only sanctuary in Thailand that puts the well-being of elephants first. There are no performances -- just elephants being elephants.

STAR

Star’s birth on September, 18, 2007 was cause for huge celebration. Not only was she the first calf to be born at BLES, she was the first calf to be born in our village of Baan Tuek.

On May 24, 2010, there was a heavy rain storm. Star was in the forest and instead of taking shelter under her mother’s belly, she was dancing in the rain, rolling in the mud, and loving her life. The storm turned its attention to Star and sent a flash of lightning down to strike her. The shock was too much for her little round body. She died instantly.

Star's Full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/star

PANG NOI

Pang Noi (Miss Little in Thai) is the smallest of our adult females and our most ambitious rescue to date. When three-out-of-five owners of a pregnant logging elephant visited BLES to propose a sale, Katherine and Anon had no idea what a confusing and complicated rescue they were about to conduct. The owners, five family members, expressed their desire to sell an elephant that would be useless once the calf was born. Katherine and Anon were relieved when told that the elephant was just an hour away in Ultradtt. However, when Katherine and Anon arrived at the meeting site, they were told that the elephant was in Chiang Kong, a 12-hour drive from BLES.

Pang Noi's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/pang-noi

PANG TONG

Pang Tong (Mrs. Gold in Thai) is the mother of the Sanctuary’s namesake, Boon Lott, and the matriarch of the BLES family. Her life before BLES was filled with abuse and distress. When Katherine and Anon met her owner, he proudly shared his personal story of beating, starving, and working her under dangerous conditions. He was oblivious to Pang Tong’s first pregnancy until he found the dead calf’s body beside her. The calf may have been stillborn due to Pang Tong’s highly distressed state or her isolation from other elephants.

Pang Tong's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/pang-tong

SOMAI

Somai is a rare case of an elephant donation and was the first arrival to BLES. One of the few lucky elephants left in Thailand, he was used for sustainable logging and well cared for by his village owners.

Somai's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/somai

LOM

Lom (Umbrella in Thai) is the life and soul of the BLES family. Since her arrival at BLES in July 2006, she has enchanted everyone with her bouncy, bubbly, and boisterous ways. Lom’s early life began on the streets of Chiang Mai, used for begging to the tourist trade. The visages of her struggles from that time are still evident. Scars remain from endless hours of being dragged through the streets by her ears and legs and being shot from behind with an air gun.

Lom's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/lom

PLAI TONG JAI

Plai Tong Jai (Heart of Gold in Thai) is the tallest member of the BLES family. When Anon overheard a man complaining that his elephant was a useless waste of time, Anon asked to see the elephant for himself. The elephant, in reference, was Plai Tong Jai, an incredibly tall, handsome but dangerously underweight specimen. Flies buzzed around Plai Tong’s spine, indicating broken skin where the bones had protruded.

Plai Tong Jai's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/plai-tong-jai

MARE BOON MEE

In her early 80’s, Mare Boon Mee (Mother of good fortune in Thai) is the oldest member of the BLES family. In March 2007, a panicked owner contacted Katherine and Anon to urgently request their help with his dying cow, Boon Mee. Katherine and Anon examined her and found that although she was visibly exhausted and quite ill, she was determined to live.

Mare boon Mee's full story can be read here:http://www.blesele.org/elephants/mare-boon-mee

SEEDOR YAI

Seedor Yai (Mr. Big in Thai) is massive, standing an impressive 2.8 metres and weighing 4 tons. Like most of the elephants in north Thailand, Seedor Yai worked as a logging elephant until his elderly owner retired, retiring his bull with him. When the owner became ill and no longer able to support both his bull and his family, he made the difficult decision to sell his elephant. Several potential buyers interested in returning the bull to logging made generous offers.

Seedor Yai's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/seedor-yai

PANG SUAI

Pang Suai (Miss Beautiful) is in her thirties and one of the newer members join the BLES family.

Standing true to her name, Pang Suai (beautiful) is a physically stunning elephant. She is large and strong, but sadly these atributes have worked against her. Her super size and strength means that she has been overworked and subjected to extreme levels of stress for most of her life. Forced to pull piles of logs to feed mans’ greed, Pang Suai often had to work under dangerous conditions that resulted in a serious accident which left her right hind leg broken in half. Despite her pain and disability, Pang Suai was made to continue working.

Pang Suai's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/pang-suai

TONG YUI AND BONG BENG

Bles was first made aware of the plight of two street elephants back in June 2008 when Katherine received a heartfelt email from Jan Tunks. Jan wrote of how she had befriended Tong Yui, the elder of the two elephants, while traveling around Thailand in November 2007. In her own words, “I had seen elephants in Bangkok some years earlier and had been devastated to see how they lived and worked. Despite her hard life, Tong Yui was full of love, compassion, and humility… she was kind, gentle and strong, and greeted me each day by holding her trunk up to my face and blowing gently…”

Tong Yui and Bong Beng's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/tong-yui-and-bong-beng

MEE CHOK

Mee Chok (Blessed) was just twenty months old when BLES successfully rescued him. Previously known as Pheung Yai (Bumble Bee), this baby elephant had known nothing but the inside of the filthy shack he was chained and shackled in. He was snatched away from his birth mother when he was just a few months old, so that the owners could start breaking him in. He was put with another adult female who showed no interest in him and he was never allowed out of the broken down stable. Chained, shackled, and highly distressed, Mee Chok had wounds on his face and ears, was dehydrated, and thin.

Mee Chok's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/mee-chok

WASSANA

The rescue of Wassana (Fortune) was full of dramatic twist and turns and emotional ups and downs. BLES founders Katherine and Anon discovered Wassana by pure accident when following up on a call about a baby elephant living in unacceptable conditions.
They took a wrong turn and there she was… limping due to an old land mine injury which had blown away half of her foot and crying from the pain being inflicted on her by the mahout’s unhealthy obsession with his huge hook. Blood dripped down her face and there were numerous stab marks puncturing her forehead.

Wassana's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/wassana-fortune

PANG DOW NAAM CHOK

Pang Dow Naam Chok (Lucky Star) has endured more abuse than most twenty-something female elephants. Despite being seriously disabled, Pang Dow has been forced to live out every possible nightmare.

Pang Dow's full story can be read here: http://www.blesele.org/elephants/pang-dow

8 February 2011

When I think of a lotus flower, I have an image of a beautiful, round bud floating on top of the water, looking proud, yet delicate, but always attractive. There is something powerfully symbolic about it growing in the dark muddy water and pushing its way up towards the sunshine. The lotus symbolizes purity of heart and mind and faithfulness. It represents beauty, long life, health, honor and good luck…

Bwua Ngam is Thai for ‘Beautiful lotus’ and is the name of the elephant we are currently trying to save. She is certainly beautiful, but will she have a long life complete with good health, honor and luck? Sadly, not. Having spent her entire life standing on concrete, Bwua Ngam has developed osteomyelitis, a chronic bone infection and in her case, foot rot. She is 28 years old and has worked hard as a street beggar and trekking elephant. The infection in her four feet is so severe that she walks on the sides of her feet as it is too painful for her to walk properly. Her owners can’t force her to work anymore as she ‘moves too slow’ and so she stands, on a short chain, in a concrete barn, rocking from side to side, day in, day out.

This poor elephant has never been in a forest. She doesn’t know how to graze, forage for food, or play in the mud. Basically, Bwua Ngam doesn’t know what it means to be an elephant.

BLES wants to help show Bwua Ngam there is more to life than city streets and trekking camps.

Thanks to the generosity and patience of Silke Preussker BLES is in a position to save Bwua Ngam. We have the funds to secure her future, but funds are still needed to finance her rescue. Any contribution you can offer is greatly appreciated and will move us one step closer towards Bwua Ngam’s recuperation. Chipin To follow her story you can join our Facebook group.

On her behalf, I thank you in advance for your support.

Trunks up and fingers crossed for a speedy rescue and recover for Bwua Ngam,

Katherine xxx