How We Began

As a testament to Boon Lott’s courage, Katherine established BLES in his memory. Despite cautions regarding her safety and warnings about the futility of a young British woman founding an elephant sanctuary in a foreign country, without government support, Katherine and BLES are flourishing. Boon Lott’s infectious spirit is present in every Sanctuary moment.

http://www.blesele.org/how_we_began/

Katherine provides regular updates through her journal and through the BLES Facebook:

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...ES/204190776464

Katherine's Journal 4 Sept 2011 now online - the story of Pang Dow:

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

From BLES: Bong Beng, Tong Yui and Wassana discovering the tires we hid in the grass for them! Turn the volume up for this one.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boon-Lotts-E...ES/204190776464

The chirps, rumbles and honks coming from this trio is infectious, I just broke out in a smile

Katherine's journal 11 September now online:

A very full report - Katherine brings us up-to-date on all the happenings to the elephants (and the rescued laughing thrush) at BLES.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine's journal 23 September 2011 now online:

Remembering Little Star - She very simply was a star, through and through and shone brighter as each day passed.

Tong Jai, Tong Yui ... Dr. Susan Makota and Dr. Kyne U Mar.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/



Edited to correct URL ...

It's so nice to hear news of Dr. Mikota.


BLES had the absolute honour of welcoming Dr Susan Mikota and Dr Khyne Mar on the 12th September and even though their visit was brief, the knowledge and advice they so openly shared was endless. It was amazing to be in the presence of these two remarkable women who have dedicated their lives to improving medical care for elephants around Asia. There was nothing they didn’t know, hadn’t seen and I am grateful for their personal and professional support.

Oh Happy Days!
Video of Pang Dow 1st Anniversary at BLES

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boon-Lotts-E...ES/204190776464

Katherine's Journal 6 October 2011 now online:

I can’t help but wonder what the elephants think when they watch their home being pulled down around them. Are they confused. angry, bitter, sad? They always remain calm and show little emotion when walking through what feels like a war zone to reach our release sites. I wish I could stay as composed as they do, but it is soul destroying to be living in this nightmare of destruction and to be so powerless. The only way we can save the land around BLES is to buy it. To do that, we need serious funds and support. It would be easy to give up and resign to the fact we will never be able to release our elephants onto protected land and allow them to live as they once were — wild. However, I have 13 reasons to fight on, to not give in and to ensure that dream does comes true.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

BLES is featured in Decembers Reader's Digest Magazine. Get a taster of the article here:

http://www.readersdigest.co.uk/magazine/17...igest-Main/1632

Katherine's Journal 1 December 2011 now online:

It has been twelve months since our Beautiful Boon Mee passed away and not a single day goes by without her walking into my thoughts, gracing me with that unique, gentle spirit of hers.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine's Journal 12 December 2011 now online:

Here at BLES, we allow the elephants to interact naturally and we understand that this behaviour is a normal progression in the development of Lom and Mee Chok’s relationship. However, when the physical safety of one of our elephants is at risk, we must intervene. It has been decided that Mee Chok’s tusks will be trimmed.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine's Journal 26 December 2011 now online:

When the elephants came down to devour the buffet, Wassana ran around trying to pinch as much of everyone else’s platter as she could before demolishing her own! Pang Dow and Pang Suai were a tad more discreet and waited until almost everything from their ‘plate’ was gone and then wondered over to see what was left on others. Lotus made every bite last and was the last one to finish up. We always lay out the buffet on a table cloth of banana leaves and Lotus, who clearly believes nothing should go to waste, ate every leaf, crumb and seed!

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Just posted online - update from BLES 13 January 2012 (I assume this should read February).

Valentine’s day will mark the second anniversary of Tong Yui and Bong Beng’s rescue. I am very proud that we have been able to keep them from begging on the streets for two whole years. Those two elephants have grown and blossomed during their time here and most of that is thanks to Wassana. I still get such a thrill from watching Bong Beng dig her toe nails into the ground and start kicking up the dirt, so that she can throw it over her back to cool down. I will never forget watching her attempting this for the first time after she saw one of the other elephants doing it. She didn’t know how to use her foot to manipulate the dirt and when she tried to blow the dirt on to her back, she missed completely. Well those days are long gone and she delights in dusting herself down each morning after her shower.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

From Katherine today:

Im sorry to share this with you all, but Tong Jai is not well. He hasn't eaten anything substantial for days and is weak. We are watching him around the clock and have alerted the vets who are on stand by to put Tong Jai on a drip... Please keep him in your prayers, thank you xx

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=165...ES/204190776464

Thank you for your kind words everyone. We think Tong Jai is in his mid sixties. He has had an incredibly tough life and looks so much older because of it. He has always been under weight, but I have never seen him this thin... We are so concerned.

Better news from Katherine:

We have purchased a food shredder and Tong Jai has eaten 3kg of sticky rice mixed with papaya and banana. He has also eaten six bunches of peeled ripe bananas and some grass. We think it might be a dental issue, as all elephants lose their teeth in old age and this obviously reduces the amount they can consume. Also, Tong Jai is in musth and their appetite reduces during this time too. He seems a bit more active this morning - the prayers are helping! Thank you for your support everyone xx

https://www.facebook.com/thedswt?v=info#...ES/204190776464

A different kind of 'trunk show;' area artists work to support elephant sanctuary

Before Connie English left the Bay Area to visit an elephant sanctuary in Thailand -- a country ravaged by relentless floods -- she was determined to use her art to create awareness about the plight of endangered elephants there.

While she was in Thailand last November, Lafayette native English also used her skills as an artist to design a community mosaic with the residents of Baan Tuek, a rural village where Boon Lott Elephant Sanctuary is located, to create more awareness about the plight of these endangered elephants.

http://www.mercurynews.com/museums-galleri...ts-work-support

Katherine's Journal for 25 March 2012 online now:

I am so privileged to be able to watch these elephants everyday and get to know them, understand them. I love them more than I could ever express and will always do whatever I can to protect and provide for them.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Report and photo from BLES Facebook this morning:

Very tough day yesterday for our Granddad bull, Somai. He collapsed in the early hours of yesterday morning... We spent seven hours trying to stimulate his bowel, trying to help him defecate. We tried everything we could think of, from walking him down to the pond for a swim, flushing his anus with water, feeding him tamarind balls (which he refused) stimulating the anus... The vets were unavailable and at one point we were considering rushing Somai to the hospital in Lampang. But I am so relieved to tell you that at the end of a very stressful day, Somai passed a huge ball of dung and last night he passed (without aid) three times.

https://www.facebook.com/thedswt#!/phot...&type=1&theater

37 photos -
Seedor Gam's rescue and walk to BLES

7th May 2012, BLES walks with Seedor Gam, a bull from the village of Baan Tuek. His owner's have retired him and donated him to BLES indefinitely. We walked him through the village. Please do not be alarmed by the chain - remember this is a rescue of a privately owned elephant who has been working his whole life. It will take time to get both the elephant and the owner (who will continue to be the mahout) to get used to not being chained. Thank you to Belinda Ogley, Jo Turnbull, Claire Aylott and Rastafa La for all your help on the day!

https://www.facebook.com/claras.voice#!...90776464&type=3

Seedor Gam has had a great first day at BLES!

He went for a long through the forest and is slowly getting to know the females.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...&type=1&theater

Katherine's Journal, 7 May 2012:

Blessings at BLES…

The 5th May is a very significant date on the BLES calendar. It marks the anniversary of the opening of BLES and would you believe we have reached five whole years already?!? Five years ago, BLES had seven elephants, just a few acres of land and only one guesthouse. Nobody knew who we were and I remember wondering how we would exist. That was when I started to listen to the universe and trust that the elephants would guide me in the right direction. That was when I began to believe in BLES.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine's Journal, 26 June 2012:

Eight years ago on this day, Boon Lott was lying with his head in my lap, looking up at me. Death was quickly stealing him away and at 10.05 am, life just couldn’t compete. After two years and eight months of going from strength to strength, life surrendered Boon Lott to the heavens. Meeting him changed me. It also changed the lives of thousands of other people and animals. Without Boon Lott, I would never have realized my destiny and all the animals we have rescued to date, would have know a very different fate… That is quite a legacy for one little baby elephant!

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine's Journal for 13 August 2012 now online:

Focus on Pang Tong, Wassana and Pang Noi.

Today marks international Elephant Awareness Day and here in Thailand, to celebrate the Queen of Thailand’s birthday, it is also Mother’s Day. And so I want to take some time to celebrate the inspiring mothers we have here at BLES.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

9 September 2012

We always knew this day would come….

To many of you, what I am about to share will come as a shock and will no doubt be highly upsetting. None of us ever wanted this to happen, but deep in our hearts, we knew the day would come that Tong Yui and Bong Beng would have to leave us.

Due to the owner’s recent and dramatic decline in health, it was decided by her family that it was for the best she return to Surin, to be with her relatives so they can give her the care she needs. Originally, the family were happy to entrust Tong Yui and Bong Beng to BLES completely, but because of the dependency the owner has on Tong Yui, she refused to leave the girls behind and demanded they return to Surin with her.




http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Thanks for posting, SL.

It is a little comfort that Katherine writes that
Anon and I plan on visiting them soon.

The anguish of those left behind ...

Heartbreaking for everyone! I'm crying.

Katherine's Journal for 15 September 2012.

It is Pang Dow that has reached out to Wassana in her moment of need and wrapped her up in trunk hugs ... Wassana has also found great comfort in her trusty mahout, Phi Loy.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Katherine also writes that she is planning to travel to Surin asap to try to see Bong Beng and Tong Yui:

Report + close-up photo of Lotus' foot abscess

Some sad news - Lotus has an abscess on her back foot which burst five days ago. It is painful and difficult to treat. We are trying to keep her out of the mud and sand for now as it is important for the abscess to stay clean. We are giving her daily foot baths and need to appeal for donations of either funds or medicine to help Lotus. We need to buy large quantities of Povidone, which is an antiseptic. It costs 3.50 GBP per bottle and we think we will need at least 60 bottles ...

https://www.facebook.com/claras.voice#!...&type=1&theater

Update from Katherine on Sunday:

I will be placing an order for several boxes of Povidone tomorrow and hope it will be enough. The abscess is looking better and Lotus is doing an excellent job of keeping it clean.

Update on Lotus, plus photo:

Lotus in her foot bath. She is now having daily 30 minute foot soaks until the abscess on her back foot has healed.

https://www.facebook.com/thedswt#!/phot...&type=1&theater

Katherine adds:
Yes Lotus really is a patient and very special girl. The abscess is getting better, but it will take a while before it is fully healed.

Seedor Gam is weak. (10 photos with captions)

https://www.facebook.com/michael.medlar?ref...90776464&type=1

Comment from Katherine 11 hours ago:

New photo posted 3 hours ago:
As there has been no improvement in Seedor Gam's condition, we have decided to send him to the TECC hospital in Lampang. The truck is on its way and Seedor Gam should arrive there safely tonight. Please send him all your positive energy for the long journey. It will be tough on his body in his weakened state.

As we have not yet been able to raise the funds to establish our own medical clinic here at BLES, sending Seedor Gam to Lampang is our only option.
https://www.facebook.com/michael.medlar?ref...&type=1&theater

Update from BLES + photo of Seedor Gam:

Seedor Gam at the TECC elephant hospital earlier today.
His blood test results confirm he is anemic, but there was no other abnormalities found.
He is eating a little better, but still needs hydration fluids.
Please keep sending him your positive energy xx

https://www.facebook.com/thedswt#!/phot...&type=1&theater

via EARS Facebook page:

This Monday morning we mourn the loss of Seedor Gam, a stunning bull elephant who sadly passed away last night at TEEC elephant hospital in Lampang, Thailand. Our thoughts and prayers are with all at Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary where Seedor Gam spent his final months of retirement after working as a logging elephant for over 30 years. RIP Seedor Gam x

https://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?f...&type=1&theater

Katherine's journal entry for 15 October 2012 now online - it is a tribute to Seedor Gam:

Further tests revealed Seedor Gam had contracted a blood infection, transmitted by horseflies. The Dr. said he must have been infected before he was rescued by BLES and the infection was in an advanced state.

http://www.blesele.org/katherines_journal/

Update + photo from Katherine re Lotus:

Last week we discovered the cause of Lotus' abscess... A small sharp piece of wood had pierced the sole of her foot and lodged itself deep inside, causing poor Lotus huge discomfort and pain.

I am pleased to report that Lotus has made huge improvements since the wood was removed!

She is still on antibiotics and having daily foot washes with povidone and in true diva style - she is of course loving all the attention!

Thank you to everyone who donated towards her medication and has sent messages of support - You are all so wonderful xx

https://www.facebook.com/michael.medlar/fav...&type=1&theater

2 videos of Lotus in the river:

I have a stronger internet connection and am trying to upload this fabulous video of Lotus in the river again for you all.... I am really hoping it works!!!

Again, I am sorry for my narration - I was a tad emotional watching Lotus relax in the river... 2012 was quite a tough year for us all at BLES for various reasons and Lotus wanted to make sure we saw the year out smiling - well, we DID!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boon-Lotts-E...152361839665394

I took a lot of video of Lotus in the river, but this is probably the best one.... She spent the whole afternoon just lying on her side, basking in the sun, surrounded by her two best friends.... These three elephants have come so far since they were first rescued and I am just so proud of them.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...152361878415394

From BLES Facebook today:

Elderly elephant needs your help!

Friends and faithful supporters, this is Somsri (Gentle lady). She is 70 yrs old and she needs you help URGENTLY. We know she used to beg on the streets of Hua Hin and was then moved to work in a trekking camp in Pattaya, which is where she is now. SomSri has sores and fresh wounds covering her body. Her skin is dry, she is dangerously thin and has possibly lost the sight in one eye. SomSri recently spent time receiving treatment for a uterine infection. Her owners are in serious debt and will use the funds received by us to clear their overheads. They are good people and feel sad for their elephant. They want her to retire and live out the rest of her life in peace. We need to raise a total of 200 000 Baht/ 6500 USD/4000 GBP to secure her retirement to BLES ...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...90776464&type=1

The funds for SomSri's rescue have been raised in 30 hours - now for the next step - getting "Gentle Lady" out of Pattaya and into BLES.

This video carries both images of SomSri and info about her situation at the trekking camp, and her wounds and other health issues:

SOMSRI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=evb2uS9KKIg&feature=youtu.be

Today Katherine is taking emaciated SOMSRI to her new forever home:

We are here with Somsri...She is beautiful but very thin. Her skin is so dry and her feet are terrible... But we will soon fix all of that!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheElephant...&type=1&theater

We will be following the story of Somsri's journey to freedom on her special topic on the "Rescue, Retirement, Relocation" forum on this link:

http://z13.invisionfree.com/Elephant_Comme...?showtopic=2760