​Wassana is 49 years old and she is a such a sweet, calm, gentle giant. For the last few years she has been a temple elephant but she was previously used in the logging industry and then as sold into the riding industry. Most elephants at this age we formerly used in logging and when the government banned commercial logging in 1989, elephants were retrained to carry a chair and gave rides to tourists instead.

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When Wassana first arrived she was very overweight and unfit as she was fed too many bananas from visitors at the temple and had no exercise. We had to be careful to gradually increase her exercise up and down the hills until she gained muscle strength. She also has an old injury to her rear right leg and she takes her time getting in and out of the pond, and going up and down the steeper hills. 

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In June 2024, she became best friends with Nong Fai, who is equally calm, patience and kind. Nong Fai waits for her, and they constantly touch each other for reassurance, and we often hear them rumbling and squeaking to each other too. ​

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Sudai also hangs out with these two elephants as she is friends with Wassana so we often see Wassana, Nong Fai and Sudjai together, though Sudjia sometimes tries to push Nong Fai to assert her authority as a 61 year grandma within the friendship! 

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We always say that elephants heal each other and it's wonderful that these elephants now have the time, space, freedom and peace to spend each day together. ​