Five Years of Love and Freedom: Celebrating Bunma and Chaba
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by
scott
Five years ago, the lives of young Chaba and her teenage mother, Bunma, changed forever when they stepped out of an unethical elephant show and riding camp in Chiang Mai and into the safe, compassionate embrace of a true sanctuary. Born on May 17, 2021, little Chaba spent her earliest weeks confined with her mother to a barren concrete pen. Meanwhile, Bunma, who had previously been forced to perform circus tricks, ride bicycles, and paint pictures for tourists, was kept bound by a short chain. Recognizing their dire situation, Save Elephant Foundation swung into action to secure their rescue on August 11, 2021.
Bringing them to safety required an unconventional approach. Because the trucks caused great distress to Bunma—who as a protective mother was terrified of being separated from her calf—the rescue team opted for a slow but gentle journey on foot. Lek Chailert and the SEF team accompanied the pair on a peaceful two-hour walk through the countryside, guiding mother and daughter right to the sanctuary gates, where a celebratory fruit cake awaited to welcome them home.
In the early days following their arrival, Bunma struggled to produce enough milk, leaving little Chaba without the vital nourishment she needed to grow. The sanctuary team stepped in with round-the-clock support, working tirelessly to help Bunma regain her health so she could care for her calf once again. That initial vulnerability has long since given way to robust health and boundless joy.
Reflecting on the last few years, the transformation of this mother-daughter duo is overwhelmingly positive. Because they were rescued together, Bunma was given the precious opportunity to watch her baby grow—something so many captive mothers and calves are tragically denied. Unburdened by chains, bullhooks, or forced commands, Bunma’s once-denied inner child has been able to re-awaken. Having never known a true childhood herself, she now plays with as much enthusiasm as her daughter, often acting as a joyful playmate to Chaba and her best friend, Pyi Mai.
Today, Chaba has grown into a healthy, bright, and confident young elephant. She is surrounded by a loving, extended herd that includes Pyi Mai, Kham Moon (Pyi Mai’s mother), and doting nanny Dmax, where the responsibilities of childcare and companionship are shared. Every day is filled with the simple, natural pleasures of sanctuary life—roaming across expansive green fields, letting the cool river currents wash over them, and playing side by side in soothing mud baths.
Celebrating five years of freedom is a powerful testament to the healing power of compassionate care and the importance of keeping elephant families together. A mother and her calf belong with one another, never to be cruelly separated for human entertainment.
Our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful friend and supporter, Noelle Weiss, for making the rescue of these two beautiful elephants possible. Surrounded by love, safety, and a true herd, Bunma and Chaba are living proof of the bright, happy futures that can become reality when compassion gives rise to action.