12 May 2022

Shortly after Thailand’s post-Covid reopening and us having been able to welcome back tourists to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, we were able to rescue Ampan, the first elephant bull to call PES his new home.

Born in Northern Thailand, Ampan’s owner moved him to Nakhon Si Thammarat in the early 1990s to work in the logging industry. He was then sold to another camp in 1997 and worked in numerous logging camps throughout Southern Thailand ever since. Our mahout Benz, also from Nakhon Si Thammarat, knows Ampan well, as they worked together in the past.

Blind on one eye, Ampan is a 60-year-old bull without tusks, and with mahout Benz knowing him well we felt confident to introduce him to the herd, and to provide him with a peaceful and loving home after 6 decades of hard work.

Unfortunately, during a first medical check-up by our veterinary team it appeared that Ampan was in a poor condition, so we brought him to the elephant hospital in Krabi for a more thorough examination. He was diagnosed with an intestine infection and his recovering until today, under close supervision of the staff at the elephant hospital. We hope to welcome him back to Phuket Elephant Sanctuary as soon as possible, and to see him enjoying forest life without pain.
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