Nong Nooch bids tearful farewell to baby elephant

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Family and friends gather to bid a fond farewell to Pang Fah Jaem wishing him a happy life in his new home.
Family and friends gather to bid a fond farewell to Pang Fah Jaem wishing him a happy life in his new home.

Pang Fah Jaem to reside in new home in Lampang

October 23, 2016 was the fateful day when an orphaned baby elephant was severely injured by a hunter’s deadly trap in Khao Kang Hangmao forest, Chantaburi Province, causing him to lose his front left foot.

Officials of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation rushed 2-month old Pang Fah Jaem to the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden kraal where veterinarians worked night and day to treat his foot and save his life.

Now that the baby pachyderm was healthy again, it was time to send him to his new home at the Thailand Elephant Conservation Center under Royal Patronage in Lampang province.

As was agreed the Elephant Conservation Center assigned a mahout to come to Nong Nooch village to be with Pang Fah Jaem for the past month, so that they could bond a close relationship before travelling up to Lampang together.

On August 5, the day of his departure, Mr. Kampol Tansajja, Director of Nong Nooch Tropical Garden together with Mrs. Pattanan Kantisukpan and Dr. Padet Siridamrong the veterinarian and an entourage of 20 other elephants big and small gathered to bid a tearful farewell to their little baby.

Mr. Kampol said, “For almost 3 years we have cared for and loved our baby. He is our family and we are very sad to see him leave. But I am consoled by the thought that he will be very well taken care of in his new home.”

As if he knew that he was going away, never to see his loved ones again, Pang Fah Jaem sulked all day long and looked very sad. With tears in his eyes Mr. Kampol said, “You see, elephants also have feelings just like us. I wish him a happy life in his new home. I’m confident we will meet again one day.”