Dok Ngeon has a son: Chang Yim!
Dok Ngeon has given birth to a healthy baby boy, at 4h20 this morning, Thai time. Such wonderful news! He is called Chang Yim (smiling elephant) and the first male elephant born in the freedom of Elephant Nature Park.
Chang Yim was born in the presence of Antoinette, who has been able with Bring the Elephant Home and the support of many, to free Dok Ngeon. Now Dok Ngeon herself has given birth to an elephant in freedom!
“Yesterday morning, at 4 AM Pom woke me up: “To the elephant shelter, now!”. I could only think about one thing: Dok Ngeon is giving birth! In the dark I run half asleep to Dok Ngeon’s shelter. And I was right awake. Dok Ngeon was rumbling, lot’s of blood on the floor and the other elephants around her were making noise. This wouldn’t take long. Twenty minutes a huge ball appeared below her belly and… plop! A sack fell on the ground, Dok Ngeon immediately took care and a trunk was sticking up in the air!”
Please click ‘more’ to see more photo’s (made by Antoinette) and to read the story of the birth of Chang Yim.
“In a few seconds the baby was crawling on the floor, and some minutes later he was standing on his little feet! Magical, one of the most beautiful things I ever saw! The first hour was a bit scary. The young boy so vulnerable, Dok Ngeon’s first baby, all the pain. Faa mai, a baby of 2,5 months old, was immediately there with mother Mae Bua Thong following her. Dok Ngeon got nervous and protected her baby. She is doing such a great job! She kept her boy in between her legs, and was showing him her breasts immediately. Chang Yim started to drink, and it looks like Dok Ngeon has lots of milk for him.
Chang Yim is about 100 kg, his height 93 cm, big ears, big strong feet and is trying to make friends with the other elephants already. Dok Ngeon surely feels super proud, she’s over protective and hyperactive. She made noise all day. Finally her own baby.
After so many impressions the baby must be exhausted. But Dok Ngeon doesn’t want him to lie down. Each time the baby is falling asleep on the floor, Dok Ngeon pushes him back on his feet. In the wild this would be too dangerous, Lek explains. This will take a few days. So Chang Yim sleeps standing, each time a few minutes. Both mother and son must be exhausted. At night they have a camp fire, to keep them warm and against insects, and hopefully they will get some rest. Everything is ok! I’m sure Dok Ngeon will be the best mother an elephant could wish for. So proud of her.”
Antoinette
Do you want to donate for a birth gift for Chang Yim? Please click here. Thank you so much.
