Chains and shackles have no place on an elephant’s legs.
Yet we still witness these majestic animals being exploited for entertainment and profit—a practice that’s nothing short of heartbreaking.
The good news? Change is happening, slowly but surely.
Today, I want to share a story that begins in darkness but ends in hope. Meet Grandma Somboon, an elephant whose journey will stay with you.
Stolen from the wild as a baby, Somboon spent more than eighty years breaking her back in logging camps and tourist attractions.
Her life mirrored that of countless other elephants: torn from her offspring, forced into degrading performances, made to beg on busy streets, and used as a living ride for visitors seeking a thrill.
Every single day, she stood on aching feet, carrying strangers on her back through exhausting shifts when she should have been roaming free. While blame can be distributed in many directions, there’s no denying that tourist demand fuels this brutal industry.
When word reached the Save Elephant Foundation in Thailand about Somboon’s plight, the team mobilized immediately.
“Grandma deserves proper care and the chance to simply rest,” they posted on Facebook this past January, announcing: “We’re launching a rescue operation to save Somboon and bring her to her forever home.”
That same month, the organization successfully freed the neglected elephant, who had reached the remarkable age of 87.
A lifetime of relentless work was finally over—her chains would be removed, and rest would come at last. The team brought Somboon to Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, but her physical state was alarming. She was painfully thin, missing teeth, her eyes clouded, and dangerously dehydrated. Her skin bore the marks of decades of neglect—but at least now she was in caring hands.
“Most newly arrived elephants, still traumatized and wary, take weeks before they feel safe enough to lie down,” the rescue team explained.
“Grandma Somboon was different. Worn out from the journey and a lifetime of suffering, she immediately found the soft sand bed we’d prepared and fell into a deep sleep, even as activity continued around her.”
After spending every moment of her existence standing, Somboon’s first instinct was simply to lie down. Elderly elephants with weakened joints cannot survive sleeping upright, chained to concrete floors with barely any slack.
Upon reaching the sanctuary, Somboon slept so deeply and for so long that her caretakers worried about rousing her.
When she finally stirred, getting back up proved difficult for the elderly elephant. But she did it! The rescue team hadn’t been certain how Somboon would adapt to her new life, but she’s surpassed every hope. Every rescued elephant at the sanctuary receives complete care—nutritious meals, fresh water, and soft sand beds for sleeping.
Somboon still needs considerable daily attention, but she’s improving steadily. Imagine her relief—no more brutal labor, and finally receiving the dignity she’s always deserved.
As Grandma Somboon continues healing at Elephant Nature Park sanctuary, her story reminds us of the incredible strength and spirit these animals possess.
Through all the pain she suffered, Somboon has discovered peace and compassion in her new home, where she’s finally experiencing the freedom and tranquility that should have been hers all along.
To learn more about the Save Elephant Foundation and their mission to protect vulnerable elephants, visit their website.