News

I’m back!

9 December 2024

Baby La Ker Por returns to Chiang Mai Elephant Land!

In conjunction with the FAE hospital [1], we have agreed a new plan to introduce La Ker Por to our herd. We are hoping that he will be accepted and eventually supplement his feed by taking milk from baby Horton’s mother (Mo Phror Mae). The FAE hospital is about 100 km (about 2 h) from our camp. Armed with an initial 40 cans of backup milk, La Ker Por arrived back at our sanctuary from the hospital in Lampang on 5th December. For the plan to succeed to succeed, LA Ker Por will first need “approval” from our herd’s matriarch, Mashaw. In fact, following Horton’s birth, he became a firm favourite with Mashaw after only one week! So, although La Ker Por has initially been shunned by the herd, we remain optimistic.

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

La ker Por!

8 December 2024

A second elephant birth at Chiang Mai Elephant Land in four weeks!

Mo Kee Ler, our 14 year old female elephant who came to us at one year into her pregnancy has also given 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 celebrates the goddess of water and the Buddha’s hair pagoda in heaven. 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.

As expected, the new calf was unable to latch on the mothers single deformed nipple and could not feed properly. After three days of bottle feeding and 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 their 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. We will keep you updated on La Ker Por’s progress.

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

A Star is Born!

5 December 2024

Our first elephant birth at Chiang Mai Elephant Land!

Mo Phror Mae, a 17 year old female who came to us at one year into her pregnancy has finally given birth. After several false alarms over the previous month, and many sleepless nights, 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 already helping her newborn son take his first steps. We have 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.