Faa Mai is a ten-year-old elephant. Faa Mai means “a new day” and the happiness she has brought to the Elephant Nature Park (ENP), sure made her birth seem like a new day. Faa Mai was born in the Elephant Nature Park and has bonded with her human mother, Lek, just as much as she bonded with her elephant mother, Mae Bua Tong.
Faa Mai is also just as protective of her human mom, Lek, too!
Faa Mai was born at the Elephant Nature Park in the Chiang Mai province of Northern Thailand. The Elephant Nature Park states,
“our aim has always been to provide a sanctuary and rescue centre for elephants. The park is located some 60km from the city, and has provided a sanctuary for dozens of distressed elephants from all over Thailand.”
When it comes to the care of Faa Mai, who was born at the park and not brought in, the Elephant Nature Park lets the world know that,
“She is the first calf born from an ENP’s mother and father. Faa Mai will never suffer cruel torture training. She will never work a day in her life. She will stay in a matriarchal family group with her mother Mae Bua Tong, her big sister Tong Jaan, and adopted big sister Faa Sai for the rest of her life. Faa Mai enjoys being a junior nanny to Dok Mai and Dok Rak, daughter and son of Dok Ngern. She is the pampered princess of the ENP, confident and sometimes a bit stubborn.”
While she is the “princess” of the park, she is still a gentle giant to all those around her and that includes humans too. Lek is an ENP employee that has been with Faa Mai since her birth. Faa Mai was playing in the mud and spotted Lek and came to her for a hug.
Faa Mai did not care that her hug made Lek just as muddy as she was.
Lek went down to the water to clean up the mud out of her hair and body but Faa Mai was not going to let Lek go alone. Faa Mai went with Lek to the water to protect her. She treated Lek as she would a smaller elephant in her herd. She was keeping Lek close to her and kept touching her with her trunk, but that was were the problem was for Lek.
Faa Mai was still muddy and with every new touch to Lek, she was getting her just as muddy all over again.
Lek stated, “The more that she touched me, the more that I was dappled with dirt. She then shuffled me away from the river as is the way of a mother toward her calf. Sometimes I wonder what Faa Mai is thinking, acting always so caring and protective as if she were my mama!”
Faa Mai might only be ten years old but knows that her size makes her stronger than Lek.
Faa Mai loves her family and she is letting Lek know that she is a member of her family. What a sweet and loving giant.
The Elephant Nature Park uploaded the interaction between Faa Mai and Lek, so the entire world can enjoy the sweet, but funny, interaction!
Watch the video for yourself in full right below. Prepare to laugh and wish an elephant loved you as much as Faa Mai loves Lek.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
