The Enduring Bond Between Mother and Calf
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by
scott
At five years old, Jai Dee (Sa Ngae) has grown so much that he is nearly as tall as his mother, Mho Jae. Yet, despite his size, he remains a “little boy” at heart—and he is not quite ready to give up his mother’s milk. While Mho Jae often tries to encourage his independence by walking away or gently nudging him toward new activities, Jai Dee is persistent. He has also developed a clever strategy, often aided by his indulgent grand-nanny, Sook Sai, who will quietly stand beside Mho Jae, blocking her path to ensure Jai Dee gets his chance to nurse.
This playful dynamic is a window into the profound emotional lives of elephants. Like human families, elephant bonds are built on years of shared experience, patience, and unwavering devotion. From birth, a calf is entirely dependent on its mother. In the wild, they rely on her milk to build their immune systems and, in a fascinating biological necessity, consume their mother’s dung to acquire the essential microbes needed to eventually digest plant material.
Most calves are naturally weaned by age four, but in a sanctuary, where the pressures of survival are replaced by security and affection, many mothers continue to nurse their calves for much longer. Mho Jae’s patience as she allows her adolescent son to squeeze beneath her belly is a testament to the depth of maternal love. She protects him, comforts him, and guides him as he transitions toward adulthood.
However, we are acutely aware that this bond is often fragile in the outside world. Over the years, we have witnessed the heartbreak of calves being torn away from their mothers in the tourism industry. The terror, confusion, and grief of that separation are profound. There is a tragic misconception that mothers reject their calves to justify separating them for tourism or commercial gain—nothing could be further from the truth. No one understands a calf’s needs better than its own mother, and no place is safer than by her side.
Whenever you see a baby elephant used for performances or rides, we urge you to ask one simple question: “Where is its mother?” To separate a calf from its mother for human entertainment is a cruelty that must be ended. If we love our own children, we must recognize that mother elephants love theirs just as deeply. In the safety of our sanctuary, Jai Dee and Mho Jae serve as a beautiful, daily reminder that a mother’s love is the greatest gift an elephant can receive—and that this bond never truly fades.
