Nong Nooch Tropical Garden welcomes Baby Elephant

Sombat is currently one of the tamest and most talented elephants at the Nong Nooch Tropical Garden. Her specialties include basketball shooting, carrying tourists and bowling.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden Director, Kampon Tansajja, revealed that his mahout, Mr. Kaew Malingam, who had been taking care of Sombat that Sombat did not want to eat any food and was, acting strangely, surmising that Sombat was experiencing labor pains, notified him, on September 3. Finally, at 12:29 am, September 04, on a rainy and stormy night, Sombat gave birth to a healthy, female baby elephant. Those who observed this natural birth cried with joy.

Pattanan Kantisukhphant, General Manager, revealed that the newborn elephant was produced by Sombat, 16 years old, impregnated two years ago, by the male elephant called “Bird”, 31 years old. Sombat is a tame and talented elephant that is able to entertain tourists by performing basketball shooting, bowling and carrying tourists. Many good-hearted tourists have rewarded her with many bananas and other fruits every day up until the day she gave birth to her offspring. In addition, Sombat’s childbirth went smoothly, with no serious side effects.

Apart from the good news of the new-born baby elephant, Mr. Banlue Sansuriwong, Elephant Activity Chief, revealed that he was telephoned by an anonymous gentleman who offered to buy Sombat’s afterbirth for dining purposes for 20,000 baht. This was because many people believe it is good luck to eat an elephant’s afterbirth; while some think it has medicinal benefits.

Suriwong continued that to have a new born female baby elephant is thought to be lucky because female elephants or other animals will benefit the owners, especially in a commercial perspective, as the owner could sell and make lots money from the many offspring produced during the animal’s lifetime. An animal’s price is presently worth at least 8-9 hundred thousand baht.