“Hello, I’m Sri Nuan. I was with Somboon when we walked across the island to freedom. It was a long walk for a sick old lady. The procession had to keep stopping so that I could rest. At about the halfway point, the vet had to come and see me and give me a drip because I was so dehydrated. We did eventually make it.
I’ve spent my entire life working and not being looked after properly. For many years I was in the logging industry, hauling massive teak logs out of the forests in the northern region of Thailand. I didn’t like it. In 1989 elephant logging was banned in Thailand, which we all thought was great news, until we were forced to carry tourists in heavy chairs every day.
I came to Koh Samui about ten years ago when I was 40 years old, where I continued to trek with the tourists. It was during this time that I met Maew. He promised me that one day, he would rescue me from trekking and that I would be free. He kept his promise. I’ve had so many horrible things happen to me, I’ve shut much of my life away so that I don’t have to think about it all. I know that I don’t get on well with other grown-up elephants, but I do love the babies. I’m so happy that Somboon’s baby has been born.
They keep me in an enclosure because I try and fight with the other elephants. I don’t want to, but I just can’t help it. My mahout has to prepare food for me every day. I only have one tooth left, so I struggle to eat, which leads to indigestion problems. I have minced watermelon, bananas and leaves. It’s much more beautiful being at the Haven where I can rest and sleep well for the first time. It’s a joy seeing Kwan Samui, Moloair and Nong Pech play together, I feel happy when I watch them”.
