Sow has been reunited with her longtime friend, an elephant named Jahn, at the refuge. The pair, who met when they worked together in the logging industry, have known one another for around 30 years. They’ve formed a strong bond and are often seen interlocking their trunks in a heartwarming display of friendship.
Sow and Jahn - Image Credit: World Animal Protection
Sow, a 55-year-old Asian elephant who spent much of her life unwillingly
giving rides to tourists, is now living with her ‘soulmate’ at the Following
Giants sanctuary in southern Thailand.
Sow worked in the logging industry — where elephants typically use their
tusks to carry logs to rivers, which would then float down to the logging
mills — before performing forced labor and enduring harsh mistreatment in
the tourism industry for over two decades. And it was only her decaying
teeth that got her sent to a sanctuary, as veterinarians deemed her at risk
of starvation.
Elderly elephants struggle to eat properly once their teeth start
deteriorating, rendering them unable to grind their food. Staff at Following
Giants ground Sow’s food for her, ensuring that she receives adequate
nutrition.
“It’s already made such a difference to her personality and health,” David
Owen, World Animal Protection’s consultant at the sanctuary, told Mirror
Online. “She has so much more energy; she looks so much fuller; even her
skin looks better.”
Sow reunited with her longtime friend, an elephant named Jahn, at the
refuge. The pair, who met when they worked together in the logging industry,
have known one another for around 30 years. They’ve formed a strong bond and
are often seen interlocking their trunks in a heartwarming display of
friendship.
“When Sow and Jahn were reunited at Following Giants, they were delighted to
see each other again,” said George White from World Animal Protection.
“Their joy at being able to spend time together is clear through their
constant tactile interactions and vocalizations. Now able to socialize
whenever they like, Jahn and Sow can spend many more years enjoying each
other’s company.”
It’s unfortunate that Sow only just started living her best life after her
teeth rotted away, and stories like this are a reminder that elephants are
not here for our entertainment. When traveling, avoid all parks or roadside
attractions that offer human-elephant contact, including rides and washing.
Return to: Animal Stories