Feast Your Eyes On This Adorable Baby Elephant Enjoying Its First Bath After Being Rescued
Since 1989, when the government banned commercial logging in Thailand, more than half of the total number of elephants are used for tourism purposes. It is no secret that thousands of tourists travel to Thailand every year just to see elephants; tourists from all over the world can ride elephants or watch them perform tricks for between $20 and $150.
However, there is another side to the story. In these elephant camps, conditions are often poor; animals are chained in small kennels, subjected to significant stress, and due to pandemics, the situation is worsening.
The crisis has also impacted elephant tourism. In camps that use elephants for trekking, bathing, and riding tours, a lack of tourism revenue and relentless food costs have hit hard.
On August 8th, 2021, the founder of the Elephant Nature Park (ENP), Lek Chailert, was contacted by the owner of a local elephant camp who was unable to care for the elephants in his facility and decided to let some of them go. Volunteers from the Elephant Nature Park gladly responded to the rescue call, and the mission began.
Despite the massive effort, these dedicated individuals rescued two elephants: mother BunMa and baby elephant Chaba. Baby Chaba was born in captivity in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and that was the only environment she knew.
It was evident that the mother was under a lot of stress; she even refused to get into the truck, so the team decided to walk to the Elephant Nature Park. Although the mother was upset, baby Chaba was very curious and walked quickly without fear.
Chaba is a playful calf who loves to explore and does not hesitate to try new things at the rescue center. At the Save Elephant Foundation, she took her first bath—an experience she will never forget—and ever since then, this has become her favorite activity.
“She loves playing with the water and splashing around. Mom walks away while she is playing and gets a moment to relax. She is growing confident and learning so much,” wrote one of the rescuers on their official Instagram page. Now, mother and daughter have a chance to live the life they deserve: free and without any chains.
Take a look at the following photos and videos, and enjoy some heartwarming moments this duo had at the Elephant Nature Park. Have a good time!
An adorable moment when rescued elephant baby Chaba took a bath for the first time; you can see the pure joy in her eyes.
Chaba was very weak.
This mother-daughter duo was in very bad shape, as Ry Emmerson, a project director at the Save Elephant Foundation, once explained: “When our team learned about Chaba and her mom, BunMa, we tried our best to help them. We found them in a small concrete pen… It was immediately clear that they were both in poor health and needed urgent intervention.”
BunMa and her baby Chaba in the former elephant camp.
Baby Chaba’s first bath in her little bathtub.
She loves to play in the water every time she gets the opportunity.
The good news is that people are becoming increasingly aware that the animals in these camps are suffering and do not have suitable conditions. Many organizations are working to rescue and provide a natural home for them, which makes us all happy. As Dr. Jane Nelsen, a renowned parenting expert, states, "Compassion for all living beings is essential for fostering a nurturing environment." To learn more about the efforts to rescue elephants, visit the official website of Dr. Jane Nelsen and discover how you can contribute to the cause. How adorable is baby Chaba taking her first bath?
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