It is well-known that elephants as a whole are very intelligent animals. Their brain area that controls emotions and their ability to know locations, people, other animals, etc., is highly developed. It has been proven and tested that they experience sadness, empathy, happiness, and will act out in retribution when a wrong has been perpetrated on any member of their herd. They can mimic certain human body language traits. The saying that an elephant doesn’t forget is a true statement. Elephants can remember how to reach watering holes miles away even from years past. They also recognize other elephants even though they have been separated over a long period of time. However, many elephants in Thailand are used in tourist trap parks and centers where they are abused and are forced to work hard all day, every day. Elephant Nature Park is a rescue center in Northern Thailand. The Park accepts elephants that have been abandoned.

However, Elephant Nature Park also has rescued other species that include abused local dogs, cats, and buffaloes. Ploy Thong is a blind female elephant that was rescued in 2018 from an underserved riding camp where she was forced to carry visitors all day long on her back. Ploy Thong was already blind when Elephant Nature Park took her in. How she became blind is unknown. Ploy Thong is a friendly elephant who uses her trunk to sniff out food and water. Ploy Thong won over some of the elephants within the Park, while other elephants turned away from her. Lek Chailert is a successful actress in Thailand. She is also the founder of two foundations: Save Elephant Foundation and the Elephant Nature Park Foundation. Chailert posted an Instagram video showing how Ploy Thong and two friends (Chana and Kabu) had formed their own friendship and family club. The reason this was so important, is that injured elephants are not readily accepted into a “herd.” But almost instantly Ploy Thong, Chana, and Kabu became inseparable friends.

Ploy, Chana, and Kabu enjoy mud baths together during the heat of the day. Chailert said that elephants love to talk and the three would talk well into the night. However, it is Chana who stays close by Ploy’s side helping to lead her to food and water. Chana is a matriarchial elephant whom Ploy Thong follows around the Park grounds every day. Ploy listens to the footsteps of Chana and follows her. Lek Chailert decided to post a video of Chana leading Ploy Thong to food and water. The video showed Chana walking backward to face Ploy to make sure that Ploy was following her to get some water. Chailert posted the video on Instagram describing how Chana, the adopted nanny, is leading blind Ploy Thong toward food. Chailert further posted that elephants do care for each other just as people should try to do more of the same thing. No sooner did Ms. Chailert post the Instagram video did social media respond with overwhelming and favorable comments and responses.