During the transportation of Hope from the Karen village to our sanctuary we stopped at a river to take water for him. Suddenly we saw something totally unexpected. A young female in the middle of work training. Lek came back home with the gruesome picture of the horrified, tormented eyes of a terrified elephant peering at her from a cage. She felt those sad eyes begging and calling out for help and she just could not get that picture from her mind. The following day Lek took Jumbo Express and the volunteers back to see this sad spectacle.

Finances did not permit Lek from bringing this elephant to her park and, sadly, she had to leave the creature where she was.

Two months later Lek received a call for help from the Karen tribesman owner of this elephant who told her that this creature’s health was rapidly deteriorating and her feet are badly peeling with large chunks of flesh coming off. She was in great pain and so emotional that she ignored all food they threw at her. It seemed she had given up on life and wanted only to lay down. The Karen owners tried many times to call different vets to help. No one came so, finally, he called Lek who set off immediately!

Jabu is never far from young 'Hope'

We did all we could to cheer her up and take her mind from these horrendous injuries. Jabu needed loving care any does any other baby. She was pleased by the variety of fruits offered and soon began to stand up and eat again. Her feet were cleaned daily with mild solution and soon began to heal as we did all we could to keep the wounds clean.

As she healed it was not long before she settled in and quickly become a caring elder sister of our two orphaned boys. Our family is more colourful with the introduction of this beautiful good-natured female. The picture of the three of them walking together is such a beautiful, treasured memory. Today Jabu is a watchful minder for our little boy Hope and takes such good care of him. She can never leave Hope and they are now both at the Elephant Haven as part of a much larger happy family. Sadly Jaby passed away in September 2003 after venturing into a plantation and eating contaminated crops.