Peace and friendship at Boon Lott’s Elephant Sanctuary

In the wild, female elephants often stay with their family for life – roaming their habitat in closely bonded, matriarchal herds of anywhere up to 100 mothers, sisters and calves.

Wild asian elephants in Kaudulla National Park in Sri Lanka.

These uniquely intelligent creatures display deep emotion and great affection for one another - they have even been observed mourning when a member of the herd passes away.

For elephants sold into the cruel entertainment industry however, it’s a different story. When they’re not giving rides or entertaining crowds of tourists, they’re often chained up all alone. The isolation breaks their hearts.

An elephant kept on a chain.

Wassana, Beautiful Lotus and Pang Dow all lived separate lives of loneliness, abuse, and back-breaking labour in the entertainment industry and illegal logging. But when they were rescued by Boon Lott’s elephant sanctuary (BLES), these girls found each other. 

Wassana, Beautiful Lotus and Pang Dow at Boon Lott’s elephant sanctuary (BLES) in Thailand.

Now they go everywhere together. They eat, swim, rest and play together. They’re never alone. The trio even has a private language – they can be heard squeaking and trumpeting to each other wherever they are. Sanctuary staff call them ‘the Gossip Girls’.

Wassana, Beautiful Lotus and Pang Dow at Boon Lott’s elephant sanctuary (BLES) in Thailand.

We believe that like all wildlife, elephants belong in the wild. Click here to learn more about our Wildlife. Not Entertainers campaign and what you can do to help.