There have been numerous elephants rescued since the founding of ENP back in 1995, many arriving in dreadful condition – But – rarely have we encountered an elephant as emaciated as she who has become SAZA.
A skeleton shrink wrapped in dried out skin, she was covered with pressure wounds. Tendons exposed, not a muscle left in her body with the exception of her trunk. Lucky for her, besides being about 700 lbs under weight, she has no old breaks or dislocations. She is also fortunate to have sight in both eyes, though robbed of her eyelashes by greedy humans with a lust for animal parts.
Posessing a strong spirit, Saza is determined to survive.
Until recently, there were no significant laws in effect to protect elephants in Thailand. There was no official retirement age. As long as an elephant could still walk, they could be worked. Owners, seeing the elephant as only a commodity, need to get as much out of their investment as possible.
Thanks to our founder Lek Chailert and Khun Nuna Silpa Archa, the first ever serious animal protection law was passed in December 2014. In this new law it stipulates that any elephant over the age of 55 must be retired. The next step is for these laws to be enforced. If enforced, the ‘Sazas’ of the working elephant world will all be retired and finally given the specialized care that they so rightly deserve.
Saza was born around 1943 in Mae Chaem.
Her first job was pulling a plow tilling fields, though she spent most of her life working in logging. After the logging ban in 1989, Saza was used to give rides to tourists. She worked in many different areas through out Thailand, finally ending up in Kanchanaburi where she was discovered, gaunt and listless but still being worked.