Elephants are magnificent, sentient beings with the capacity for complex social ties and intense emotional attachment. But in spite of their complicated demands, they frequently endure unspeakable abuse and exploitation. Grandma Somboon is one of many elephants who have been enslaved and kept in prison for years. They are shackled and exploited as work animals or amusement. The fact that this still occurs is very horrifying, but thankfully, attitudes around these practices are starting to change.
Thanks to the relentless efforts of groups like the Save Elephant Foundation in Thailand, we are able to tell the wonderful story of Grandma Somboon, an elephant whose life of struggle is finally coming to an end. Let’s concentrate on the good as she embarks on a new chapter in her life, one that is full of freedom, rest, and care, despite the horror and cruelty that her story starts with.
At an early age, Grandma Somboon’s life was taken from her. She was abducted from her native environment when she was a calf and endured arduous work in the tourism and timber industries for over 80 years. She suffered from the brutal realities of imprisonment for decades, being cut off from her family and compelled to live a life of street begging, show performing, and giving rides to visitors. She was dragged about, forced to work nonstop, and denied the one thing that all living things are entitled to: freedom.
She is not the only one with this narrative. Numerous elephants experience similar outcomes, their morale destroyed by human avarice and the need to employ them for work and pleasure. By paying for elephant rides and performances, tourists unwittingly contribute to this cycle of pain and the ongoing mistreatment of these amazing creatures.
The Save Elephant Foundation in Thailand learned about Grandma Somboon’s predicament in January. As soon as they realized how urgent her condition was, they acted to save the old elephant. “Gramma needs to be well-cared for and given time to rest,” they posted on their Facebook page. To get Somboon to her real home, where she might finally receive the care and tranquility she so sorely needed, the crew set out on a quest.
They managed to move Somboon, who is now 87 years old, to the Elephant Nature Park refuge in January, but the rescue was not an easy task. When they arrived, it was evident that her body had suffered for a lifetime. She was terribly dehydrated, without a tooth, malnourished, and had neglected skin. The most crucial thing was that she was safe today, unencumbered by the chains that had held her for so long, in spite of these physical difficulties.
Elephants like Somboon can take weeks to feel comfortable enough to lie down after they arrive at the sanctuary. Many elephants still suffer from trauma and mistrust, making it difficult for them to adapt to their new environment. However, Somboon disregarded these assumptions. Finding the sand pile ready for her and getting a good night’s sleep were her first actions after the long travel and the horrors of her past. Her tired body could finally relax for the first time in her life.
For an elephant that has been shackled to concrete floors and made to labor throughout her entire life, this moment of relaxation was a huge relief. When elephants are made to stand on hard surfaces for long periods of time, they frequently find it difficult to sleep while lying down, especially senior elephants like Somboon. Somboon was obviously very grateful for the pleasure of being able to lie down and enjoy the comfort of soft sand, which she had never enjoyed before.
After a lengthy period of recuperation, Somboon found it difficult to get back on her feet. It took her some time to become used to her new surroundings because her body was frail from years of maltreatment. But Somboon started to feel better thanks to the sanctuary staff’s attention and assistance. She has made more progress than the rescue team had anticipated, despite their uncertainty about how she would adapt to her new existence. The sanctuary provides all the care a rescued elephant needs, including healthy food, clean water, and cozy sand beds where they may rest and feel secure.
Somboon is getting better every day, but she still needs care and attention for a large portion of the day. She no longer has to shoulder the load of work, and for the first time in decades, she is given the respect she merits, and her attitude has clearly changed. She is gradually finding the love and care she was never given, which helps to ease the burden of her past.
The tale of Somboon is one of hope and tenacity. At the Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, where she is free to just be an elephant, she has found a new lease on life despite the abuse she suffered. After being denied peace for a long time, she can now finally enjoy the companionship of other elephants.
Although her recuperation process is still underway, each new stride she takes is evidence of these amazing animals’ resilience. As Somboon recovers, her experience serves as a potent reminder of the value of elephant conservation and making sure that elephants do not endure the same misery in the future. We must keep helping groups like the Save Elephant Foundation, which work to better the lives of elephants and promote a time when they won’t have to endure suffering in captivity.
A touching illustration of what can happen when we decide to act with compassion is Somboon’s rescue. Her story concludes with freedom and hope, despite its brutal beginning. It’s important to understand that, like all animals, elephants should be allowed to live in their natural environments without being harmed or exploited. Elephants are no longer utilized as labor animals or paraded about as circus accessories, and we can all help bring about this change. We can make sure that additional elephants like Somboon receive the freedom and attention they need by lending assistance to sanctuaries and spreading awareness.
Visit the Save Elephant Foundation’s website to make a difference and discover more about their efforts to enhance the lives of endangered elephants. We can all act together to ensure that elephants are free to wander and flourish in the wild rather than being shackled.
