A painful contrast exists between the suffering and joy experienced by captive-held elephants. My heart aches for the hundreds of elephants swept from safety into the monsoon-fed floodwaters in Thailand. The devastation is overwhelming—for those who lost their lives in such a horrific way, for the caretakers desperately searching for the missing, and for the survivors who have lost herd mates and are traumatized by the experience.
It is difficult to reconcile the suffering of elephants in Thailand with the bliss ours experienced on the opposite side of the planet at precisely the same time.
At the morning feed, my spirits were lifted when I found Bo, Tarra, and Mundi in the 750-acre wilderness—an area Tarra often visits but Bo and Mundi rarely do. They had wandered many miles overnight, and I found them standing calmly together, grazing, appearing comfortable and content.
After eating their diets and quenching their thirst at the water trough, they set off again. But instead of heading toward “civilization,” the front of the refuge, they ventured deeper into the wilderness. It was thrilling to witness them embrace their autonomy, full of adventure, confidence, and solidarity.
There are no cameras in the deep part of their habitat, and I couldn’t help myself—I had to follow them, curious to see where they were heading. Would they visit the lake, roam the open pastures, or was Mundi leading Bo to the dense forest, rich with grapevines and succulent vegetation?
To avoid disturbing or influencing their movements, I tracked them on foot, keeping my distance and staying out of sight. As they continued down the narrow dirt path, they passed by the entrance to the lake and ignored the lush grass along the way. Mundi seemed intent on leading Bo straight into the forest, with Bo close behind.
Witnessing Bo, Mundi, and Tarra fully embrace their freedom and develop strong, trusting bonds is why I do what I do. And I know it’s what so many of you hope for all elephants held in captivity around the world.
Let’s give thanks for the lives elephants like Bo, Mundi, and Tarra are living, and send light and healing to those suffering in the floods in Thailand. click on link to view video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfpE1C4BWXU
