Meet the elephants - Chiangmai Elephant Land

Mashaw’s story

Mashaw is the matriach of our heard and our first rescue elephant. Mashaw is typical of many elephants who have spent a large proportion of their life working in the logging trade. In fact, when she moved to our sanctuary from the Myanmar/Thailand border region in 2018, she had never seen a foreigner or a banana! Although her documentation suggests she is 48 years old (as of 2024), her outward appearance and slow and steady gait indicate that she may be closer to 60+.

Mo Phror Mae and Horton

Mo Phror Mae is 17 a year old female who came to us from a Karen Hill tribe community in the Thai/Manymar border region. She arrived at Chiang Mai Elephant Land about one year into pregnancy and was believed to have conceived to a wild bull elephant from heards that roam in that area. The owners of Mo Phror Mae were concerned about providing adequate care for the expectant mother and baby, and requested that we provide a safe and secure environment for them.

The arrival of Mo Phror Mae’s calf followed a loud trumpet call in the early hours of the 14th October. As her mahout scrambled through the jungle, he arrived to find mum helping her newborn son take his first steps. We named the calf ‘Horton’ after the kind-hearted fictional elephant character of Dr Zeuss. Horton is thriving on the attention from all the elephants. Every day is a new adventure for Horton as he now follows the herd through the jungle, and runs around the visitors. Horton is the first elephant to be born at Chiang Mai Elephant Land and it is a joy to watch him play and attempt to master new skills as he copys his mum.

Mo Kee Ler and La Ker Por

Mo Kee Ler is a 14 year old female elephant, also from the Myanmar border region of North Western Thailand. Unfortunately she sustained an injury during her development resulting in loss of the left nipple and deformation of the right. Just over one year ago we learned that Mo Kee Ler had also conceived to a wild bull elephant. As her deformity was likely to impair her ability to feed a calf, we quickly agreed a rescue package with the owners and the expectant mum arrived and Chiang Mai Elephant Land in 2023.

After several false alerts, Mo Kee Ler eventially gave birth to a healthy male calf on the full moon night of the 15th November, 2024. This was a very special birthday since it also coincided with Loi Krathong, the “Festival of Lights”, which is a very special Thai celebration to the goddess of water and the Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven.

As expected, the new calf was unable to latch on the mothers single deformed nipple and could not feed properly. After three days of trying to assist the calf, the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Foundation Hospital [1] agreed to accept mum and baby immediately and help with the feeding issue. On the night following arrival at the hospital (18 Novemebr 2024), staff helped the calf to take his first full feed from mum. We are very grateful to FAE, and Mo Kee Ler and her calf are receiving the best possibe care. Mum and baby may still need to remain at the hospital for between three and 12 months until doctors are confident that the baby can feed unaided.

Because our new calf was born on such a special night, we named him “La Ker Por” which translates to “Moonlight shines” in Karen hill tribe language.

1. Friends of the Asian Elephant Foundation, FAE Hospital. Details available at: https://friendsoftheasianelephantfoundation.com/