In a heartwarming turn of events, two elephants, Boonme and Buabaan, have been released from a lifetime of forced labor in Thailand’s logging and elephant trekking industries.
After being chained and worked to the point of exhaustion for up to 80 years, the pair now enjoy their days at the Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai.
Their liberation was made possible through a significant fundraising effort led by 23-year-old Canadian YouTuber and filmmaker Christian Leblanc, who helped raise the necessary funds for their release.
Watch the video at the end.
Boonme, 80, and Buaban, 50, can now be seen splashing, playing, and feasting on fresh fruits and vegetables in their new sanctuary, which includes a river and mud bath.
The once-mistreated elephants have formed a close bond with another elephant named BaiCha, and the trio is now inseparable.
Before their rescue, the elephants were forced to give numerous people rides daily, often causing them great distress. Boonme collapsed at one point and had to be lifted with a crane to continue working.
To rescue the elephants, Christian, and his team embarked on a 15-hour truck journey to Surin, where the pair was found. The elephants were then transported to the Elephant Nature Park in specially designed trucks, a trip that took 23 hours.
The rescue mission is part of Christian’s upcoming documentary, “Black Tusk,” which aims to raise awareness about the cruelty inherent in the trekking elephant industry that thrives in Thailand.
By exposing the inhumane treatment of elephants in trekking camps and entertainment parks, Christian hopes to help end their suffering and promote responsible elephant tourism.
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