Picture courtesy of Pattaya News.
In a momentous event, Nam Chok, an elderly elephant who has given rides to tourists in Pattaya for decades, has been granted retirement. In her sixties, she was released by her owner into the care of the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), a sanctuary that offers a refuge for elephants.
Nam Chok, who is partially sighted, is suspected to have been captured from the wild and has spent the majority of her life in captivity. She was recently employed at a trekking camp in Pattaya where she provided entertainment and rides for tourists.
When the rescue team arrived at the camp for her, she still had her riding saddle on, indicating she had worked until her final day at the camp.
The journey from Pattaya to the WFFT sanctuary in Phetchaburi marked the beginning of Nam Chok’s retirement. Upon arrival, she was greeted…
