In my previous article, I wrote intensively about the largest wildlife rescue center. It is where I got a chance to get closed to some animals and I love elephant the most. Google map of the center is here.
Animals or birds here in Cambodia are not friends with people. Why I said that? They eat most of them and those animals are kept in the center are the victims from humans. It is a rare opportunity to be able to take photos with them except domestic animals such as bull or cow. They would run away from as soon as they smell us.
Let me tell a brief story of this elephant I had a photo with, her name is Chamreoun, meaning the prosperity.
Chamreoun (female elephant, aged 25 ), was roaming on the street #48 at Koh Kong province (Cardamom mountain) because her home was used for sugar cane plantation and she has no where to go. People threw battery acid on her in order to scare and chase her away so she doesnât trust human at all. People called Wildlife rescue team so she was sent to the park. You can get closed to her and touched her, give her food only by the mean of going with Behind the Scene tour only. She isnât allowed to be roaming outside of her cage in the park.
Fun facts about elephants if you donât know before:
The way they said hello is to use their trunk blowing to your mouth. You can blow back âHelloâ into their trunk.
If they want to communicate, they would make a âpeep peepâ sound
Elephant with bigger eyes when you are around, they donât trust you at all
Elephant with sleepy eyes when you are around trust you
Big ears of the elephants are like a fan to cool them down. At some point, they collect sand in their trunk and send back on their back to cool them from the heat.
Elephant sleeps standing (just their nature of big body - so they can escape from enemy easily) and they yawn too, they sleep about 4hours.
Elephant can smell about 300ms around them, such as water source, humans⌠and so onâŚ
They also commemorate their death ones annually at the same place they died.
There are about 300 muscles in their trunk and lift about 300l of water with that.
Elephants eat about 200kg of food a day.
Elephantâs lifespan is almost the same with human (about 90ys), so their behavior and age is comparable to that of humans. Teenage children of elephants is like those of humans.
Elephants give birth to single child, after 24months of pregnancy. The kids are playful just like that of human
Female children stay in the group forever and male elephant will get away from their herd when they are teenagers.
They have feeling just like us and the family never abandon their small children only if they have to.
Beliefs around elephants among Cambodian
The single hair from the tail of elephant, brings prosperity so they would have it tailored in the ring and wear it all the time
Women with no children or never pregnant before, walk 3 times under elephantâs belly will make them have baby too. My 2nd cousin carried a baby after doing that 10 years ago.
If elephants come to your house or stand on your land, it means it brings luck, joy and prosperity.
This article is part of the @HiroyukiTakisawa monthlyâs topic about a place to meet animal.
I loved every fun fact about elephants @Sophia_Cambodia never knew this before living in India with elephants being a common sight
The human qualities, especiallycommemorating their death make them intelligent beings - no doubt our ancestors worshipped them in the form of Lord Ganesh
@HiroyukiTakisawa san, yes she is. She is quite gentle and allow you pat her body. She loves it. Never go close to her without the mahood anyway, just maybe something would happen.
@Sophia_Cambodia Itâs nice to know that Chamreoun has a safe place to live now
Elephants are smart animals. I like them! This post just reminded me about the elephant show I saw at Nong Nooch Pattaya Elephant Theater They can paint and play sports! Very cute! @Ant_Bad_Yogi have you been there?
@Lusianaa Yes, I have been there too. But that time I was busy doing some activities with my colleagues so I didnât watch any show at all. wkwkwk. When did you visit Pattaya by the way? What activity or where do you like most?
@Sophia_Cambodia Wow, itâs nice to know those facts about elephants. One question, what do you mean by âelephants can smell 300 ms around themâ? Do you mean 300 m or 300 km?
@Ant_Bad_Yogi in 2017. I stayed for 3 nights with my friends and we visited many places in Pattaya. I like Nong Nooch! Very beautiful garden! Tiffany show was also very cool and unique 555
Hi @Sophia_Cambodia Thanks for this post. I really enjoy it. I wanted to comment but somehow it escaped my mind then. The post is very informative for someone curious about elephant like me. You have shared more information about their character. I remembered going to elephant show in northern Thailand some years back. I particularly find elephant lovely and interesting.
There are four elephants in the rescue center @Lusianaa
They are all victims from humans, trafficking and slavery. Now, they have good place to live with caretakers. I am happy to be able to visit them often!
