Arrival Mae Lai Tong
Allthough we are very busy preparing for our journey we do want to be at the Elephant Nature Park when Mae Lai Tong arrives. In the morning we leave for the park, so that in the afternoon we can continue our preparations. While feeding the elephants, we suddenly see Lee walking in the field. Mae Lai Tong is following behind quickly with her handicapped foot. First she gets some bananas and some elephants already come over to greet her. The mahouts think that after such a long trip she would like some rest first. But when she notices all the elephants standing by the river she immediately goes over there. She is going from one family to the other to make acquaintance. We look at her when she is standing in the middle of a group of elephants with trunks sniffing at her from all sides.
They seem to like her. Lilly, who usually doesn’t give much attention to other elephants, keeps following Mae Lai Tong around and is sniffing at her constantly. Mae Lai Tong, still young (19) and handicapped, will need a caring friend. It would be great if Lilly would become that friend! When I saw Mae Lai Tong four weeks ago at the festival, being very stressed, I hadn’t thought she would be so social and friendly. She isn’t shy our anxious at all. For the first time she doesn’t have a chain around her foot and is free to walk to the other elephants. What would it feel like for her? After being studied and sniffed at by everyone, she walks into the field with a group of elephants. Would this become her new familygroup? She has arranged that smoothly! And what a welcome by all the other elephants! I can’t wait for the moment Sri Nuan and Silver Flower will enter the park and get a warm welcome like this.
