Baan Pai Noi nov 2008

Nok Noi is the first elephant on the elephant island near the villages of Baan Pai Noi and Baan Pai Yai in the Isaan. Nok Noi (little bird) is 40 years old, but looks older because of the hard work she was forced to do for a large part of her life. She is far too skinny.
Since 1981 she has been working at a trekking camp in the Mae-wan district, Chiang Mai Province. Every day she had to climb and descend 5 miles, with tourist on her back! Now the villagers of Baan Pai Noi have bought her, and she has started a whole new life at the elephant island.
The villagers are owners of Nok Noi through their village bank. This way an owner can never decide that she has to go. In the end, everybody should gain by this, the villagers and of course Nok Noi.
Late November, she got her first visitors in her new surroundings, fifteen Dutch tourists. With this visit, the elephant island was official. Together with the villagers and our partner organization Population and Community Development Association, we can show people there is a different way to do things! At least it’s a start.
Of course we can’t wait for Nok Noi to get a friend on the island. We wish Nok Noi a great future on the island, with weldeserved peace and lots of love!

Nok Noi was born in 1968 in the Mae-sod district, Tak province. The first thirteen years of her life she spent in a Karen village. She is healthy but skinny because of the hard work every day.

This is how Nok Noi had to work since 1981. This is a photograph of her old work area. Nok Noi had to carry tourists on her back every day. It is known that the spine of an elephant cannot take this load, for it is fragile.

The first group of visitors on the elephant island. Nok Noi is still a bit uneasy with all this attention.

The first walk with people instead of for people.

Checking things out.

First bath

Instructions on planting trees for Nok Noi.

Another tree planted.

Visitors don’t just come to watch Nok Noi, but also get her food.

The day’s supply of grass. Now it’s off to the market for some more fruit.

New friends!