Elephants are known to have an excellent memory.
According to studies, despite their bad eyesight, they could still recognize and remember a face, be it a human or another elephant. It’s always joyous to watch elephants who get reunited with fellow elephants or people they came across in their lives.
An elephant’s memory is also vital to its survival.
Those who roam and live in a rainforest need to remember the place (and path leading to) where they forage for food. And just like humans, they take note of the faces they see and recognize them like we remember our family, friends, and hundreds more of people.
And when they see a familiar face, you’d know how happy they are.
A veterinarian had a heartwarming reunion with an elephant he saved.
Pattarapol Maneeon saved a wild elephant named Plai Thang in Rayong, Eastern Thailand. He was suffering from Trypanosomiasis more than a decade ago. This disease is characterized by fever, lack of appetite, swelling, weight loss, stiffness, constipation, anemia, etc.
Pattarapol noticed that Plai Thang had fever and edema all over its body.
Without proper treatment, this could cause an elephant’s sudden death. It can also be contagious to other animals. Elephants who suffer from Trypanosomiasis tend to go farther out of the area since they are weak and can’t fight.
It took a while before the elephant allowed Pattarapol to touch him.
He shared that it was also challenging to find and reach for treatment. Plai Thang was so clever to be hiding farther from usual to avoid possible predators, so it took them quite a while to take him to treatment.
Plai Thang was taken to the Forest Industry Organization’s territory.
Then, his treatments began. They administered his treatment at the Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation, and the staff made sure he was given proper medical attention. He was released a few months after he fully recovered.
They reunited last year when Pattarapol visited the area during Thailand’s National Elephant Day.
He saw the wild elephant, older but much stronger than when they last saw each other. The elephant slowly approached him, got nearer, and tried to recognize the person in front of it.
Then, Pattarapol held out his hand, and the most beautiful thing happened.
The elephant extended its trunk, reaching out to Pattarapol’s hand. After twelve long years, the elephant clearly remembered the man who saved its life! That’s how great an elephant’s memory is.
He went near it and greeted each other; the elephant responded.
Pattarapol went nearer and heard the elephant give out a unique tone, something he had never heard before. Elephants who are happy to see a familiar face usually give out a bellow. This elephant probably expressed its happiness to see Pattarapol again.
Elephants are truly incredible animal, and Pattarapol is an amazing vet. Check out a video of Pattarapol with another elephant below!
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