Phuket Elephant Sanctuary · Thailand
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Sanctuary story
Phuket Elephant Sanctuary
Madee was a gentle giant, known for her peaceful and calm demeanor. At 69 years old, she, along with Kannika, was among the first elephants to call Phuket Elephant Sanctuary home.
Originally from Narathiwat province in Southern Thailand, Madee worked tirelessly until 2009 when she was moved to Phuket to become a tourist elephant. Upon her arrival, caregivers discovered open wounds on her left back leg and shoulder, revealing that she had been shot with a bullet, likely as a cruel means to enforce obedience by her previous mahout.
At the sanctuary, she enjoyed a quiet and relaxed existence, finding solace in the hydrotherapy pool and forming an inseparable bond with her best friend, Kannika.
Though we mourn her loss, we take solace in knowing Madee spent her final years surrounded by care, compassion, and the natural beauty of our sanctuary. Her memory and the tranquility she brought live on at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary.
Story from phuketelephantsanctuary.org ↗. elephant.se data synced separately; this narrative is not overwritten by weekly sync.
First ethical elephant sanctuary on Phuket. Observation-only model; phasing out hand-feeding by April 2026 per WAP assessment.
2016-09-20
Data from elephant.se (Dan A. J. Koehl), CC BY 4.0. Reformatted for search.
