Boon Khum is the name of an old male elephant around 50 years old. Originally he came from Mae Lanoi in Mae Hong Son district. Throughout his life Boon Khum has had a wide variety of jobs. When he was young he was sold to the owners of a performing elephant show. He was worked during the day in the shows and at night walked the polluted streets of Bangkok to help his mahout family to make money from selling food and souvenirs. As he grew to maturity his tusks were his only pride. But, at this time, he had no idea that the tusks he was so proud of would change his life forever. Without them Boon Khum had lost his dignity and pride. When we rescued him the holes where the tusks had been removed from were deeply infected.

The infection was getting worse and eventually it had spread all over his face. Some days he couldn't work at all because he was in so much agonising pain. Lek and her vet first met Boon Khum during one of their visits giving medical treatment to the elephants who worked in the jungle. Boon Khum was seriously ill, he was standing silently under a tree with the end of his trunk lying on the ground, as though he had given up on life. When they walked closer also found many holes in his skin. Every time he moved his body evil smelling pus seeped out from open sores and wounds. Boon Khum had tears rolling down his face all the time. Lek and the vet stayed with Boon Khum and gave him the best medical treatment they possibly could.

They transferred him to the Elephant Nature Park once he was a little stronger. He needed to heal his mind as well as his body. Since he has been at our park, he has been treated with herbal and conventional medicines.

When Boon Khum first arrived, he had lost all trust of humans, and wouldn't let anyone near him. After a while he began to understand that these people were trying to help. Sometimes the throbbing aches from his tusks were so bad he would bash his head against the trees trying to numb his pain. At times he couldn't use his trunk to breathe because it had also become infected. He couldn't even chew his food, because the pain was so unbearable. After three months of treatment, he was well on the path to recovery but still very weak.

Boon Khum's owner came to check on his elephant. He decided that Boon Khum was ready to return to work at the elephant camp. Lek refused to release Boon Khum pleading mercy for this ill creature. He eventually left but, over the next three months, repeatedly returned to ask for the return of his elephant. He came at least two or three times a month. Each time he returned he became more demanding. He brought a new mahout with him, to ride Boon Khum back to his camp.

Just as Boon Khum's future was beginning to look bleak, several unlikely saviours arrived on the scene. In February 2002, eight backpackers (Sarah Child Zuniga, Christa Webber, Susie Allan, Gaynor Atkin, Nicola Austen, Rosie Gloyns, Heather Smitt and Julie Ferdinand) signed up as volunteers with Lek. These ladies were deeply moved by Boon Khum's plight after hearing his sad story. When they met Boon Khum they decided to take action. They collected what little money they had and used this money for a down payment on Boon Khum's freedom. This bought Boon Khum some time, until Lek arranges the financial resources to complete the purchase. When Lek and the vet found him they thought it may have been too late. She thought he had only about a 40% chance of survival, but now his outlook is so much brighter. Lek is happy to report that now she believes he is living in paradise, roaming the jungles, and free from the rigours of labour.