Pumpui's story

Pumpui is one of 3 elephants currently unsponsored at GTAEF (Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation) residing in Chiang Rai, Thailand on the border of Laos and Myanmar, known as the Golden Triangle. She is one of 35 elephants rescued from the streets and has been working with autistic children at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang to help for a human-animal bond to help the children.

Pumpui spent her early life on the streets selling bananas to villagers to feed back to her. Shortly before her mahout Suk bought her in 2005 she had been hit by a car and lost the young baby she was carrying. She was very scared of cars and wary of people. Khun Suk and his family worked patiently with Pumpui and helped calm her over time but still travelling eventually landing in Pattaya for 2 years and living on the streets selling bananas. There were many dangers for Pumpui, noise, traffic and the danger of falling into sewer drains. She was rescued by GTAEF and is now a healthy, sweet natured elephant.