When the Mekong rises, the elephants benefit!
Every year, the rainy season transforms the landscape around the Mekong Elephant Park. The Mekong rises, sometimes very quickly, the paths change, and our team naturally adapts the elephants’ daily routines and movements to the water level.
As for our elephants, however, they’ve got nothing to complain about! They love this time of year and all the water at their disposal. When the Mekong rises high enough, certain branches that are usually well above the water’s surface end up almost within their reach. The result: they can bathe and nibble at the same time… what could be better?!
As always at the park, we adapt to nature’s rhythm. And clearly, some of them know exactly how to make the most of it… while for our team, it means more work and a few extra challenges!
When the Mekong recedes… a bit too quickly!
Whilst our elephants make the most of the rising waters, it sometimes has a few surprises in store for our team! This year, the water level of the Mekong rose particularly quickly. As a result, our boat found itself stuck on a tree stump and partially submerged.
First attempt: gathering about twenty people to try and free it. Despite all the helping hands available, we couldn’t budge it!
So we had to change our strategy. Two other boats came to the rescue, pulling from either side whilst a pump gradually drained the water from on board. It was far from a simple operation, but it was ultimately a success. A little glimpse into the unexpected challenges of the rainy season… and, above all, into that ability to find solutions quickly and adapt, which so perfectly characterises our team and our Lao neighbours.
New pairs
A new companion for Mae Ping
Two years ago, Vee joined Mae Kham when her previous mahout retired. He didn’t come from a family of mahouts and had never worked with elephants before. But his calm and attentive nature was a perfect match for our eldest elephant, who needed a gentle and reassuring presence by her side. Two years have passed and Vee has learnt a great deal. Enough, in fact, to take on a new challenge today: looking after Mae Ping, our youngest female… but also the one with the strongest and most rebellious character!
For Mae Ping, it was important that this transition took place with someone she already knew and who understood her behaviour. And since our three youngest females spend almost all their time together, Vee soon found himself looking after not one… but three elephants!
Quite a journey for someone who, just two years ago, was only just discovering the world of elephants. And Mae Kham? She, of course, still pops round regularly to check that everything is alright with her former companion.
A new companion for Mae Kham
This change has made way for Mister Khueng, whose background is almost the opposite of Vee’s. Mister Khueng grew up with his family’s two elephants – a male and a female – and began working alongside them at around the age of 12. Elephants have been a part of his life for practically his entire life.
Bringing him together with Mae Kham today felt like a very natural step. As soon as he arrived, he settled down to sleep beside her, and the pair are now gently finding their feet as they go for walks around the park.
Energetic, enthusiastic and as happy as ever to be with the elephants, Mister Khueng is already bringing a wonderful energy to the whole team. Having spent his entire life by their side, seeing him still so motivated to look after them inevitably commands respect.
Two very different journeys and a new chapter for each of them: Vee is continuing her training alongside the younger generation, whilst Mae Kham is learning from him all the wisdom of a man who grew up with elephants.
The Mekong Elephant Park featured in the pages of
Le Figaro Magazine
Travelling up the Mekong, crossing Laos to the rhythm of the river, its landscapes, its villages and the people who bring it to life…
We were delighted to see Mekong Elephant Park featured in Le Figaro Magazine as part of “L’Étreinte du Mékong”, a beautiful journey through Laos following the Mekong and the people and places encountered along the way.
A big thank you to Marie-Angélique Ozanne and photographer Éric Martin for making Pakbeng and Mekong Elephant Park part of their journey. 💚
If you read French, we are happy to share the full feature with you below.
Wallpaper of the month
Spotlight on the Mekong
This month, no elephants on screen… but the river that sets the rhythm of their daily lives. In the midst of the rainy season, the Mekong is at its peak. High, powerful, impressive and more beautiful than ever, it transforms the landscapes of Pakbeng and reminds everyone living on its banks just how much, here, it is still nature that sets the pace.
