Meet Our Elephants
and their Mahouts

These are the elephants supported by the Huay Pakkoot Elephant Community Foundation - hopefully many more to come!

What is a Mahout?

A mahout is an elephant’s caregiver, forming a close bond with their elephant through daily care and companionship. They often come from South and South-East Asian cultures with deep, historical ties to elephants. This bond, passed down through generations, often starts when the mahout is as young as 12, learning from older family members. The relationship between a mahout and their elephant typically lasts their entire lives.

Rambo and his Mahouts Net and Guopo

Rambo is a food-loving elephant who spends most of his day eating, typically about 150kgs a day.
He shows signs of comfort and happiness, like curling his tail, especially while eating.
He is so focused on his food that he hardly notices visitors!
Rambo is a healthy weight, he has beautiful curved tusks, and long legs, indicating he will grow quite large.
His stay in the forest allows his mahouts to stay with their families and community.

Bundhi and his Mahout Chat

Bundhi has a standout personality, making him a unique character in the village.
He dislikes hills and often lays down when faced with a steep climb.
He loves food so much that he often saves some for later, tucked between his tusk and trunk.
Despite his short legs, he is round and has large, beautiful tusks for his age.

Dambo and his Mahout Ali

Dambo is a young elephant who has adapted well to the forest.
He enjoys walking with his mahout but is independent enough to forage for food on his own.
He is sociable and occasionally interacts with people.
Despite his young age, Dambo has large tusks, comparable in size to those of Boon Choo, who is twice his age.

PuNoy and his Mahouts Ameh and Amuh

PuNoy is an independent elephant who enjoys solitude and self-guided walks.
He loves to show off by lying down and lifting his trunk.
He is sociable and enjoys the company of visitors.
Punoy is on the rounder side, with large tusks.
Despite being a teenager, he is enormous with very long legs.

Boluwan and his Mahout Patti Toonya

Boluwan is the oldest elephant in the village and has a distinctive short tusk due to a past infection.
Boluwan is a large elephant who loves long walks and eating, especially banana trees and grasses.
He enjoys spending time with his mahout, Patti Toonya, and the two share a close bond.
His large tusks are a genetic trait passed on to his children, including his daughter Lulu.

Mario and his Mahout Soh-Eh

Mario and his mahout Soh-eh have been together for over an entire decade.
Mario was born in 2009, and has spent the majority of his life in the areas surrounding Huay Pakkoot.
He is naughty, but lots of fun.
Mario is one of the best singers, vocalizing a lot - we can hear him from so far away!

Meet Our Elephants and their Mahouts