New Rescue Update! Welcome Jao Thong! We are beyond excited to introduce Jao Thong, who joined us this week for a long-overdue retirement here at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Jao Thong is a 68-year-old tuskless bull, and our second male elephant rescue since Ampan’s arrival in May this year. Originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat in Southern Thailand, Jao Thong started working in the logging industry when he was a young bull. He was frequently moved around the Southern provinces of Thailand to work in various logging camps. In one of these camps, his path crossed with Benz, one of our wonderful mahouts, as they worked together for some time. Mahout Benz has been with PES since we opened in 2016 and has since then learned to live in harmony with the majestic Asian elephants. When he heard that Jao Thong’s owner was ready to sell his elephant, he was eager to help provide him with a final, peaceful home here at PES, and asked our founder Mr. Montri to help. The decision was made quickly. On 8 September we picked Jao Thong up in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and after a medical check-up at the Krabi Elephant Hospital, we continued the 6-hour journey to his final home. We thank everyone who has visited us since Thailand’s reopening. Without your support we would not have been able to change Jao Thong’s circumstances. Stay tuned for updates as he gets used to his new home and starts to rehabilitate back into forest life. #phuketelephantsanctuary #jaothongelephant #newrescue #asianelephants #wesaveelephants #ethicalelephanttourism #elephants #sustainabletourism #phuket