Kabu, a Thai elephant, was rescued in 2017 after suffering over two decades of abuse and living in deplorable conditions.
Working in a mountain village for more than 20 years, Kabu was forced to carry logs along treacherous roads, despite having an injured leg.
Watch the video at the end.
This led to a severe limp as her injury never healed properly. However, her owner continued to ride on her back, showing no concern for her well-being.
Lek Chailert, the founder of Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, revealed that Kabu had tragically lost two of her children while they were still young. One was sold to a tourist camp, while the other succumbed to a brutal “training crush” process, which involves violently confining and beating young elephants to make them submissive for work.
Chailert, along with a group of dedicated volunteers, journeyed to the village to bring Kabu to the Elephant Nature Park, a renowned sanctuary for abused elephants in Thailand. During the 12-hour truck ride, the rescuers provided Kabu with bananas and tamarinds and kept her cool by pouring water over her body.
Unfortunately, Thailand has a multitude of animal abuse stories, as elephants are exploited for profit within the thriving tourism industry. Chailert explains that many rescued elephants suffer from long-lasting psychological trauma due to their mistreatment.
Upon arrival at the park, Kabu initially appeared apprehensive about entering her new home. However, the warm and compassionate reception from the other elephants quickly put her at ease, marking the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
Watch the video below for more:
Via: Roaring Earth