Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Honey in the Spotlight!

Kelly Frost about Honey:

A day in the life with my Honeygirl....


Honey likes a nice clean spot 2 sleep in. (and you know what they say, a good nites sleep makes everything better the next day, and my corner of toast with a little jam on starts her day nicely!)

Her Banana plants are best 2B BIG but also very green (with a hint of red on) When eating her pineapple plants she'll fold them in from her right and tear off any dry bits, the roots will always be 2 her left - hence her being right handed. She'll dust them off by bashing them against the rails, trees, or her leg, 2 remove the dirt.

When offering Honey some water - by hose - she can be cheeky and try and pinch it from you but just hold firm. Some mornings she may not want any but the afternoon she enjoys being squirted down with it!

She is a very kind and gentle girlie - but needs a bit of discipline.

When riding Honey she'll rock and roll (looking 4 more food) but clench those heels in and constantly tap her ears, remember 2 speak 2 her saying her commands over and over....

Her personality is a big as she is....

In the scrubbing station she won't tolerate 2 many people washing her face, so 1 at a time (I also took a brush in 2 the river daily 2 give her an extra wash up )

My favourite time with Honey is in the water, and the rewarding her 4 being a good girl afterwards, she loves a pineapple (so when looking 4 those fresh green big pineapple plants I forage 4 a lucky pineapple or 2 or 3 haha! She does have a sweet tooth) Am really soft with her as found a when buying her treats she's partial 2 a peanut, and I shell some of them 4 her she really smiles at me showing me it on her tongue (not 2 mention dribbling haha) - then I hide some in her hay just 2 keep her happy....

After a full day of loving this gorgeous girl with lots of love and kisses you get 2 lead her back 2 bed by holding her ear and remember her commands so she does as she's told and doesn't get in2 trouble XxX

Kelly loves ya Honey

Monday, 29 February 2016

Yitor having a good time!

Yitor is getting a good wash & scrub and she really likes it.
Kelly did a good job by finding a difficult spot to rub, but she managed.
Thank you Kelly for visiting us again and take care of not only your beloved Honey, but all our ladies of Elephantstay! Hope to see you back again soon.


Wednesday, 24 February 2016

Kame our youngest baby

Late news because of very busy times her......, but Sopah has her baby.

Sopah's baby goes through life now as Kame. Named after Princess Stephanie's daughter Camille, her nick name is Kame. We were very honored with her visit last week, she is such a caring person especially for our elephants.                                          

                                                                                     Kame

Sunday, 21 February 2016

Yitor!

Emily Goodwin about Yitor:

Yitor is an amazing ellie!

She is very kind and gentle and she knows what she wants! She is very cute! She loves to eat a lot of food, she loves swimming as well and I loved being in the water with her! 

Scrubbing her was her favorite as she looked sooo happy when I scrubbed the top of her head! Every elephant is intelligent, Yitor seemed especially intelligent! She knew when I felt nervous and knew when I was comfortable riding! Yitor is also very photogenic! 

I loved my experience with her she is an amazing animal!

Friday, 19 February 2016

Yitor in the spotlight

It has been a very busy time so far in February with 2 baby elephant births, visits of Princess Stephany and the president of the Asian Wildlife Research Center and the Celebration of 20 Year Wang Chang. But now Yitor in the spotlight!

Carmen Mensink about Yitor:

When I came to stay at the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal for some days, I was assigned to take care of elephant Yitor. She's a beautiful animal, easy to recognize between the other elephants because of the light pigment parts on her ears and the upper part of her trunk. As elephants get older many of them naturally develop these pigment spots.

It was my first time being so close to a wild animal. At first I was a bit scared, a natural reaction because an elephant is sooo big in size! And Yitor isn't even the biggest of the bunch. But after my first ride on Yitor's back (you are actually sitting on her neck) I noticed that I became more relaxed and dared to come closer, and let her eat from my hand. 

Yitor is a very patient elephant, and she loves it when you speak sweet words to her and pet her. I did that a lot on the first day and the second day I had the feeling she recognized me, it's amazing how you can create a bond with an elephant so fast!

Yitor looooves to eat and even steals food from the other elephants (but the others do that too). She also likes to throw straw on her head, making it look as if she's wearing a blond wig... 

It was a beautiful experience that I will never forget, thank you Yitor!
Carmen Mensink


Tuesday, 2 February 2016

New Baby elephant born

February 1, 2016. What a wonderful day to start February! Kamlaiphet gave birth to a strong and healthy little girl today. An amazing experience and privilege to witness an ‪elephant birth especially one during the day! Number 65 for the Kraal.