I’ll never forget the day Maew and his friends came into my life. My days had been long and hard, working at a trekking camp in Phuket, carrying tourists on the same dusty trails. But when the pandemic hit, everything changed. My owner chained me up and stopped me from working. I felt forgotten, locked away, and left behind.
Then Maew and his friends found me. They cared, and on August 12, 2020, they brought me to “Samui Elephant Haven,” a sanctuary where I finally felt safe. My body had seen years of hard work, and it was tired. My legs hurt, my stomach was weak, and my eyesight wasn’t what it used to be. But still, I found joy in simple things, like eating.
I became a nanny to a young elephant, Kwan Samui. At first, I didn’t understand why Aom, Kwan Samui’s mother, was so close to her, but I eventually realized the bond they shared. Over time, I found my place in the sanctuary’s herd, surrounded by people who loved me.
But my body began to fail me again. I started drooling more, lost my appetite, and felt constant pain in my teeth. The humans did everything they could, but nothing helped. I was taken to an elephant hospital, but the pain never went away. Eventually, I knew it was time. I felt peaceful and let go, knowing I was loved and cared for in my final days.
I’m gone now, but I hope they know how much those last years meant to me. I came broken, but I left at peace, forever grateful for the second chance they gave me.
