Motala and Baby Mosha each received their new prostheses from the Prostheses Foundation.  Both Asian Elephants are survivors of landmine accidents and star in the feature-length elephant conservation documentary, The Eyes of Thailand.

Motala stepped on a landmine on August 15, 1999.  She received her first prosthetic limb 10 years later, on August 16, 2009.  After a brief set-back, she slowly began to put more and more weight on the prosthetic limb as she learned to walk with it.  On December 25, 2009, she received a new foot pad for the prosthesis.

The Prostheses Foundation gave Motala's prosthesis a new foot pad.

Mosha stepped on a landmine in June 2006.  Because she was younger (only 7 months old), her wounds healed faster and the Prostheses Foundation built a prototype for a prosthetic elephant’s leg for her in June 2008.  This is Mosha’s fourth prosthesis and she will need more throughout her lifetime as she continues to grow.

Mosha's new prosthesis, January 2, 2010.

The Prostheses Foundation checked on Mosha’s and Motala’s prostheses on December 22, 2009.  Soraida Salwala, founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital outside of Lampang, Thailand, expected them to receive their new prostheses on January 2, 2010.

Happy Holidays!

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

P.S. The Eyes of Thailand is currently accepting donations to edit and distribute the film in 2010.  You can make a tax-deductible donation through the film’s fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society, by clicking here. Thank you for your support!

Mosha (which means Star in the Karin language) is a 3-year old Asian Elephant at the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital.

When she was 7-months old, Mosha stepped on a landmine along the Thai-Burma border. Her owner donated her to FAE, where Soraida Salwala and her staff could rehabilitate and care for her.

Image provided by Jody's Jungle

When we first met Mosha in 2007, she was a curious 2-year old, who wobbled on three legs.

Image provided by Jody's Jungle

When we returned in August 2009, Producer/Director Windy Borman filmed Mosha receiving a prosthetic limb from the Prostheses Foundation for the documentary, The Eyes of Thailand.

Mosha and Windy reunite in August 2009.

On December 22, 2009, the Prostheses Foundation visited Mosha and made a mold of her leg to create her fourth prosthesis, which they will present to her on January 2, 2010 as a New Year present.

Prostheses Foundation staff take a mold of Mosha's leg.

As a permanent resident of FAE, Mosha will continue to receive prosthetic limbs throughout her lifetime, which can be as long as 60-80 years.

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

P.S. The Eyes of Thailand is currently accepting donations to edit and distribute the film in 2010.  You can make a tax-deductible donation through the film’s fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society, by clicking here. Thank you for your support!

PETA has acquired shocking photos from a former Ringling Brothers Circus trainer that show frightened baby elephants at Ringling’s breeding center undergoing barbaric training methods to make them perform in the circus.

Please sign this email to conduct an immediate investigation and initiate criminal action against Ringling and all other culpable parties.

PETA is also calling on: parents to stop taking their kids to the circus, and Ringling’s sponsors not to support elephant abuse. For more information, visit PETA’s anti-Ringling Brother’s website.

ACTION ALERT: With elephant logging now illegal in Thailand, many owners look to the tourism industry for income.  There are now over 2,000 elephants working in tourist treks, as street beggars, or performing in elephant circus shows in Thailand.  While some tourists think it is fun and exciting to see an elephant up close, feed her bananas, or walk through the jungle on her back, the reality is much different.

The elephants are not only overworked, but they also suffer injuries from performances or car accidents, water poisoning from dirty city water, starvation, and the list goes on… But tourist awareness and education will decrease the demand for working elephants.

The Lonely Planet Guides are printed in 8 languages and are one of the most popular traveler’s guides. This petition demands the addition of the dark side of the elephants tourism industry in the company’s books, so that travelers may make conscious decisions before unknowingly supporting any abuse.

December 22, 2009– Baby Mosha, a 3-year old Asian Elephant who stepped on a landmine when she was 7-months old, will receive a new prosthetic limb from the Prostheses Foundation at FAE’s Elephant Hospital on January 2, 2010.

Prostheses Foundation measures Mosha's leg before creating the mold.

On August 15, 2009, I filmed her receiving a prosthesis for The Eyes of Thailand documentary film, featuring Soraida Salwala and the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital in Lampang, Thailand.

Mosha has grown so much since August that the Prostheses Foundation returned today to make a mold of Mosha’s leg in order to build a new prosthesis, which they will present to her as a New Year present.

As a permanent resident of FAE, Mosha will continue to receive prosthetic limbs throughout her lifetime, which can be as long as 60-80 years.

The Prostheses Foundation unpacks the new prosthesis foot pad for Motala.

While the Prostheses Foundation was at the Elephant Hospital, they checked on Motala and will change her prosthesis’ foot pad on January 2, 2009, also.

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

P.S. The Eyes of Thailand is currently accepting donations to edit and distribute the film in 2010.  You can make a tax-deductible donation through the film’s fiscal sponsor, the San Francisco Film Society, by clicking here.

I have some sad news to share.  On December 18, 2009, Soraida wrote:

At 8.55 p.m. Baby Namfon fell on the sand and we helped her up, trying to walk her to the mattresses but she resisted. Now she is standing but shaking, urinated what we think has blood in it but will check for certain.

The owner has been contacted for final decision. He puts it in our hands. We shall do all we can to take good care of the Baby until the final moment comes.

Bless her,

Soraida

Within hours, Soraida wrote:

I am sorry to share with you this sad news. Baby Namfon could not make it, she died early this morning at 2.50 a.m.

We shall bury her next to Baby Dumbo, Tiny and Toansai.

We are all very sad but there are many more lives to be saved. MaeNoi who is expecting the baby needs our care, Somsri, Jok and other elephants are waiting to be tended too. Even though our hearts are heavy… we shall move on with our strong determination to help the elephants in need.

Thanks to you all for the support.

Soraida and all at FAE

I met Baby Namfon, an Asian Elephant who was rejected by her mother shortly after birth, while filming The Eyes of Thailand at FAE in August 2009.  At that time she was 5-months old, and, though slow to put on weight, still very curious about new people.

Baby Namfon and Julia in August 2009

On December 14, 2009, Namfon was featured in the “Meet the Patients: Namfon” blog post.

Soraida, and all her staff and supporters at FAE, are in our thoughts.

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

Unfortunately, Soraida and the vets at FAE cannot save every elephant that visits their hospital.  Tahnee was a 70+-year old elephant Asian Elephant and a permanent resident at FAE.  (Elephants can live for 60-80 years).  On December 5, 2009, Tahnee’s health began to deteriorate. Soraida reported:

Tahnee has saliva dripping from her mouth, does not eat grass just bananas. Has not drank water this morning. She eats and chews very slowly. Sign of old age, Dr. Preecha says.

Dr. Preecha starts an IV drip on Tahnne (December 5, 2009).

By December 6 the situation was worse:

Tahnee’s hind legs are shaking and she does not want to lie down.  We are afraid she might hurt herself if she collapsed, so dried grass has been scattered around since last night.  Staff is putting up support railing at the Nursery, which has soft sand.

We will continue the [IV] drip, since she has not eaten nor drank.  It’s 12noon.  Her chance of survival is slim.

With tears, Soraida

Soraida with Tahnee on December 6, 2009.

On December 7, 2009, Tahnee collapsed. Soraida wrote:

Tahnee collapsed at 1:49 am and left in peace at 2:09am. No words could express how we all are feeling. She was a daughter, a sister, a friend and wherever she might be now, she remains in our hearts.

She will wake no more, Oh never more… Soraida

Tahnee's grave, December 8, 2009.

MaeNoi is helped off the truck after arriving at FAE.

December 12, 2009–New patient who arrived yesterday, MaeNoi, an eleven year old pregnant elephant, has been relieved from bloat. MaeNoi is already 15 months pregnant which means she was pregnant when she was only less than 10 years old. [According to Wikipedia, female elephants usually reach estrus around age 13 and carry the fetus for 22 months.  For more information, click here.]

Last night MaeNoi cried for her friends. They work at the hotel in Chiang Rai but  she managed to sleep for over an hour. Mosha is so interested in MaeNoi since they are both young, she climbed her fenced enclosure to have a look.

-Soriada
Founder, FAE

Namfon is the youngest elephant at FAE.  Earlier in 2009, we reported that:

Namfon was disowned by her mother, Boonpan, shorty after she was born on April 27, 2009.  Because elephants are social creatures, they learn parenting skills from the matriarchs in their herd.  Namfon’s mother never learned how to be a mother and therefore tried to trample Namfon when she attempted to nurse.   Soraida writes, “We tried to persuade Boonpan to recognize her own baby but her behaviour this morning was the intention to kill. They have to stay in different Infirmaries away from each other… Boonpan killed her first offspring and Namfon, which means “rain water”, is her second. We would not risk the baby’s life and shall do our best to make the two happy.”  After several unsuccessful atempts, FAE found an elephant from a nearby elephant camp who just weaned a baby to be Namfon’s wet nurse.  Several weeks later, she is beginning to gain some weight.

In August 2009, I met Namfon while filming the The Eyes of Thailand at FAE.  Here she is saying hello to Production Coordinator Julia.

Namfon gives Julia a Hello sniff at FAE in August 2009.

Since then, Namfon has become more active, but still struggles with eating and putting on weight.  FAE is experiencing an usually cold winter, so they’ve given Namfon a blanket, which she wears as a “coat” on her walks.

Namfon walks with Dr. Kay at FAE.

On December 12, 2009, Soraida reported, “Baby Namfon has 13.1 Litres of milk yesterday and 2.5 litres this morning. Now she is having a walk with blanket over her body.”

We hope that her health continues to improve into 2010.

-Windy Borman

Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand

P.S. December 14, 2009–Soraida wrote: “Baby Namfon has fever, we are trying to do our best. I do not know what else to say, but she is standing, having slight difficulty in  breathing. Dr. Preecha and Dr. Kay are treating her.”