Elephants

We left Phi Phi on the morning ferry and went straight to the Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.  The sanctuary just opened three years ago and had only two elephants originally, but now has five (one other died recently).  It's such a sad story to hear about how these animals have been abused, so this was a very illuminating visit and it received high marks from the students.

When we arrived at the elephant sanctuary, we watched a couple videos to prepare us for the elephant encounter.

At the sanctuary, the elephants can just roam free rather than be chained as they were in their previous years.  This is Mandee.  She's in her mid 60's and has a prominent scar on her left shoulder.  When she first arrived at the sanctuary the wound was open and painful.  With repeated treatment by a veterinarian, one day during wound cleaning a bullet fell out.  It is presumed that the previous owner may have been angry and shot her in the shoulder.

The closest elephant is Kannika; she and Mandee have bonded and they came up to the short fenceline to accept food.

Kannika is in her mid-30s.  She was brought to Phuket when she was just 10 years old to work at the beaches, hotels, and resorts begging and performing for tourists.  In 2007, the founder of the Phuket elephant sanctuary bought her.

Here's Savannah with Kannika.

Katie.

Alyssa.

Anna.

Alex.

Franny.

Mandee had enough and went for a stroll.