Every elephant whom we have rescued has a story. The stories are common, and yet each remarkable. For all, their employment has been unconscionably destructive of their nature as a wild animal.
Kabu’s life is emblematic of that suffering. Hardship barely begins to describe her life. Although her legs were severely crippled as a child, she was not exempt from work. She became a logging elephant as her mother.
On a day when i traveled to remote logging areas in the northern Thailand, I witnessed the tragic life of logging elephants. In the deep jungle, I met Kabu, and when I saw her, I couldn’t turn my back. I had to bring her out of such a living death.
Kabu was handicapped as a child from a working accident while her mother hauled logs. She has suffered since that time. When she was able to walk, she was forced to haul timber, as her mother. Up and down steep hills, with heavy chains upon her neck, and hauling giant logs down steep mountains to pickup points.
It took us many months to rescue Kabu. She has been safe in our project for years now. When she was younger, and beyond our reach, she was forced to bear 2 children, a boy and then later a girl. They were taken from her. The boy died not long after being trained to submit, and her daughter is a trekking elephant somewhere in Thailand.
But now Kabu has a new family. She adopted Chana as her child, and Kabu came back to life again.
Kabu is still disabled. She is challenged to walk, but does so with enthusiasm for her ‘daughter’.
Gentle Giant Stay Home project recently sponsored Bionic Pets to make prosthetic legs for disabled elephants and other animals at ENP. Kabu is one of the recipients of a prosthetic. Our vet team is currently undergoing trials with the assisting device, and have observed Kabu’s reaction to this aid.
Hopefully, the prosthetic support will help Kabu to walk with less difficulty, and support her joints for longevity in mobility. Monitoring and evaluations ongoing.
Thank you Gentle Giant Stay Home Every elephant whom we have rescued has a story. The stories are common, and yet each remarkable. For all, their employment has been unconscionably destructive of their nature as a wild animal.
Kabu’s life is emblematic of that suffering. Hardship barely begins to describe her life. Although her legs were severely crippled as a child, she was not exempt from work. She became a logging elephant as her mother.
On a day when i traveled to remote logging areas in the northern Thailand, I witnessed the tragic life of logging elephants. In the deep jungle, I met Kabu, and when I saw her, I couldn’t turn my back. I had to bring her out of such a living death.
Kabu was handicapped as a child from a working accident while her mother hauled logs. She has suffered since that time. When she was able to walk, she was forced to haul timber, as her mother. Up and down steep hills, with heavy chains upon her neck, and hauling giant logs down steep mountains to pickup points.
It took us many months to rescue Kabu. She has been safe in our project for years now. When she was younger, and beyond our reach, she was forced to bear 2 children, a boy and then later a girl. They were taken from her. The boy died not long after being trained to submit, and her daughter is a trekking elephant somewhere in Thailand.
But now Kabu has a new family. She adopted Chana as her child, and Kabu came back to life again.
Kabu is still disabled. She is challenged to walk, but does so with enthusiasm for her ‘daughter’.
Gentle Giant Stay Home project recently sponsored Bionic Pets to make prosthetic legs for disabled elephants and other animals at ENP. Kabu is one of the recipients of a prosthetic. Our vet team is currently undergoing trials with the assisting device, and have observed Kabu’s reaction to this aid.
Hopefully, the prosthetic support will help Kabu to walk with less difficulty, and support her joints for longevity in mobility. Monitoring and evaluations ongoing.