Hello! You’ll probably know me as the cheeky one—or maybe the diva. My name is Nong Pech. I was born on Koh Samui in 2012, so I’m 14 years old, and yes, still pretty young!
I lived happily with my mum, Somboon, until one day I was taken far away to the northeast of Thailand and forced to work as a street beggar. It was a very hard life for a baby elephant. I walked on hot pavements all day, surrounded by smelly traffic, loud horns, and impatient people. I was often hungry, frightened, and always missing my mum.
One terrible day, I slipped and fell into a deep drain, badly injuring myself. That was when Maew rescued me and brought me to his sanctuary in Surin. I spent the next two years there, slowly recovering from my injuries and learning how to feel safe again.
It was at Maew’s sanctuary that I met my first friend, Moloair. We became inseparable, and I’ll admit—I sometimes led her astray with my mischievous ideas.
Later, we all moved to our beautiful island home at Samui Elephant Haven. I never imagined I would one day live in such a loving and peaceful place. In May 2019, something very special happened: my mum, Somboon, and Sri Nuan walked from the south of the island to join us here in the north. Seeing my mum again filled my heart with joy.
These days, I’m happy living here. My best friend Samui is always by my side, and Granny Sudarat, watches over me. I’m very friendly by nature, though sometimes that can be a little too much for some of the others. When they’re in a bad mood, I know it’s best to keep my distance, so everyone stays safe.
Life here has taught me balance—when to play, when to be gentle, and when to give space. And even if I’m still a bit of a diva, I finally feel like I belong.
