Pai Lin has passed away

We are heartbroken to share the sudden passing of our much-loved and oldest elephant, Pai Lin. This loss will be deeply felt not only by our team, but also by the volunteers, visitors, and supporters who have cared for and loved Pai Lin over the years.

At almost 80 years old, Pai Lin lived a very long life. She was exploited for around 60 years in the logging industry, as a begging elephant, and even carried tourists on her back. She came to us as our first elephant rescue; our friends Joan and Martin secured Pai Lin’s freedom.

We shared countless wonderful moments with Pai Lin. Although she endured six decades of exploitation, she spent almost 20 years with us, making elephant friends along the way and, in her later years, enjoying her own space and peace and quiet.

We will always look back on our time with Pai Lin with a smile. We will remember her as the older lady who still had a playful side, how she enjoyed her morning swims in her lake, the silly way she liked to balance straw and grass on her head, and the hours of fun she had playing with her tyre toys.

Pai Lin was given almost 20 years of peace and kindness, made possible by our supporters.

We held a Buddhist ceremony to help guide her passage to the next life. Rest in peace, Pai Lin. You will be missed dearly.