Rescued 19 APRIL 2018

Passed Away 14 January 2022

Sai Tong’s story began with a visitor’s distressing message in February 2018, revealing her plight tied to a tree on the sweltering island of Koh Lanta.

Responding to the call for help, our founder Mr. Montri and the team visited ‘Phang Duan.’ Emaciated, weary, and clearly in mental distress, Sai Tong, formerly known as Duan, bore the scars of a harsh past, including an infected wound on her leg. Her name, “Duan,” meaning “maimed” in Thai, hinted at a painful history – a section of her tail had been bitten off by another elephant.

Learning from her owner, we discovered Sai Tong’s years of labor in the logging industry in Southern Thailand before being relocated from Trang to Krabi. There, she walked the streets to sell bananas and endured daily bathing sessions with tourists.

April 2018 marked a turning point for the 55-year-old gentle giant. Her chains were finally removed, and Sai Tong embarked on her last journey from Koh Lanta to Phuket. After a ferry and truck ride spanning 5 hours, she arrived safely at her new home – Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.

At Phuket Elephant Sanctuary, Sai Tong, despite the challenges of losing most of her molars, found solace and joy in the sanctuary’s nurturing environment. Her days were filled with the simple pleasures of foraging for soft grasses and banana leaves, savoring the natural bounty that surrounded her. The caring mahout provided her with specially prepared rice balls and soft fruits, ensuring she received the nourishment and attention needed for her well-being.

Though Sai Tong has left us, her memory lives on in the sanctuary that provided her with love, care, and freedom in her final years. We express our gratitude to all who contributed to making Sai Tong’s time at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary a chapter of tranquility and peace.