Posts Tagged ‘landmine’
Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
In addition to building prosthetic limbs for elephants (like Mosha and Motala) that step on landmines, the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital also treats elephants for everything from illness to injuries.
Elephant Kamnoi pets Baby "Dante" at FAE.
On February 18, 2010 we announced that Soraida Salwala, Founder of the FAE Elephant Hospital and featured in the elephant conservation documentary, The Eyes of Thailand, shared the successful birth of a new baby elephant on February 15. One day later, Kamnoi and her healthy baby boy, whom they’ve since named Dante, arrived at FAE. To read the blog post, click here.
Baby Elephant Dante attempts to nurse at FAE's Elephant Hospital.
I am happy to report that Kamnoi and Dante are continuing to bond, although he sometimes needs to get a boost to reach his mother to nurse!
Baby Dante gets a boost from FAE staff to nurse.
Dr. Preecha and the staff at FAE are also supplementing his mother’s milk with goat’s milk. Soriada wrote to explain:
Mother of Baby “Dante” does not have enough milk. She is feeding him but the milk is not enough. So, when he is still hungry, we feed him with goat milk.
Kamnoi watches as Dr. Preecha feeds Baby Dante at FAE.
Please send good thoughts for Dante to continue to grow to Soraida and her staff at FAE’s Elephant Hospital. We’ll send updates as they come!
Sincerely,
Windy Borman
Director, Producer and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
Dr. Preecha feeds Baby Dante at FAE.
Tags: animal welfare, asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, D.V.A. Productions, Dante, Dr. Preecha, elephants, Eyes of Thailand, Kamnoi, landmine, Mosha, Motala, prosthetic, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from Soraida and FAE, Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
On February 26, 2010, Soraida Salwala, Founder of the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital and featured in the elephant conservation documentary, The Eyes of Thailand, wrote to share:
Motala and Mosha are the same. Mosha is not happy since she could not wear the prosthetic leg last week. We are looking forward to the new ones being made on The National Elephant Day (13 March).
We look forward to sharing the new pictures of Mosha and Motala, two elephant landmine survivors also featured in The Eyes of Thailand, walking on their new prostheses next week. Please check back after March 13, 2010.
-Windy Borman
Director, Producer and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
Tags: animal abuse, animal welfare, asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, D.V.A. Productions, documentary, elephants, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Motala, prosthesis, prosthetic, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from Soraida and FAE, Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Friday, February 19th, 2010
Please enjoy the new photos of Mosha, taken on February 12, 2010 by a member of Collecting Smiles Club.
Mosha (photo credit: Collecting Smiles Club)
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.
Mosha, with chalk on her amputated leg, which helps reduce the irritation of wearing her prosthetic leg. (photo credit: Collecting Smile Club)
When we first met Mosha in 2007, she was a curious 2-year old, who wobbled on three legs. 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 with a member of the FAE staff at the Elephant Hospital. (photo credit: Collecting Smiles Club).
To see Mosha’s progression over the years, please click here.
Sincerely,
Windy Borman
Producer, Director and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
Tags: asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, Collecting Smiles Club, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Prostheses Foundation, prosthetic, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
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Friday, February 19th, 2010
Corinne Morton taught her 6th Grade Science classes in Ithaca, NY (USA) about the plight of elephants in the wild and captivity. Inspired by The Eyes of Thailand trailer, three students wrote poems about Thai elephants. Below is the second poem:
A Thailand Elephant
by Jaina Swanhart age 11, Boynton Middle School
This elephant here
Was taken from his mother
Never got to roam free
And feel secure as elephants do with one another
Dreaming, hoping to find a way home
Away from his mom, it is so severe
Whips, chains and illegal logging
From a small soulful eye drops a swift tear
Shredded leg, what now?
Stepping on explosive mines
Standing on three feeling despair
It is only a matter of time
In his captivity a lady looks
Kids around him, he’s being teased
Runs and runs to fine Mahout
She thinks, can I buy him please?
She’s rescues him, finally free
Knowing where to take him
He follows her lead
To the elephant hospital, to a new limb
Eating with other elephants
Here he finds his mother
Walking, talking, catching up
A feeling like no other
There’s a devoted vet
He loves and cherishes her
Giving him a new hope in life
He wishes others fate were similar
Please tune in next week for the third poem…
-Windy Borman
Producer, Director and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
Tags: asian elephant hospital, Corinne Morton, Eyes of Thailand, landmine, logging, mahout, prosthesis, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Thursday, February 18th, 2010
In addition to building prosthetic limbs for elephants (like Mosha and Motala) that step on landmines, the Friends of the Asian Elephant (FAE) Elephant Hospital also treats elephants for everything from illness to injuries.
On February 15, 2010, Soraida Salwala, Founder of the FAE Elephant Hospital and featured in the elephant conservation documentary, The Eyes of Thailand, announced the successful birth of a new baby elephant:
A new baby was born at Mae Ping Camp in Chiang Mai last night. The baby weighs only 30 k.m. (same as Tiny). Dr. Preecha reached Pung Noi and her baby before noon. Preparation to transport both the mother and her male baby is being carefully carried out.
On February 16, 2010, Pung Kamnoi and her healthy baby boy arrived at FAE:
Dr. Preecha says the baby looks good. We have the soy milk ready in case his mother is not ready to feed him.
The first photos of the happy mother and baby appear below.
Kamnoi arrives at FAE by truck.
The staff at FAE encourage the wobbly newborn elephant to walk off the truck.
Kamnoi and her healthy baby boy.
Kamnoi and Baby Boy.
We are happy to see Kamnoi and her baby bonding and will share more news and photos as we get them. Please stay tuned!
Sincerely,
Windy Borman
Producer, Director and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
P.S. The Eyes of Thailand is currently fundraising to edit and distribute the film so we can tell the world about the plight of the Asian Elephants and share the great work that Soraida and her staff do at FAE. To make a tax-deductible donation to the film, please visit our website and click “Donate Now“. It will take you to the secure online donation page for our fiscal sponsor, The San Francisco Film Society. Thank you!
Tags: animal welfare, asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, Chiang Mai, documentary, Dr. Preecha, elephants, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, Kamnoi, landmine, Mosha, Motala, San Francisco Film Society, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from Soraida and FAE, Notes from the Director | 1 Comment »
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Corinne Morton taught her 6th Grade Science classes in Ithaca, NY (USA) about the plight of elephants in the wild and captivity. Ms. Morton writes:
I did a big unit on elles in science for all 90 of my students and still weave in elles whenever I can, inducing my poetry reading class unit. That is where they wrote the elle poems… They have a lot of knowledge about elles now and of the many sanctuaries. I talk about why elles shouldn’t be in zoos and circuses, tourism, illegal forestry logging, street entertainment, etc., it was an extensive unit, powerful, wonderful. The kids are amazing and very passionate about the plight of elephants on this earth! The children will change the world!!
Inspired by The Eyes of Thailand trailer, three students wrote poems about Thai elephants. Below is the first poem:
It Will Come Soon, Hope
by Morgan Bell age 11 Ithaca, NY Boynton Middle School
Called Suste by her Mahout Master
Some stop in moment to take charity
She’s getting yelled at and urged on faster
Kindness in her world is a rarity
One single tear rolls down her wrinkled face
Covered with colors from head to toe
She dances for the waiting eye with grace
Oh No! A wrong step waiting for her foe
Scars from her mistake start to bother
She closes her eyes as he does the job
She wonders if there’s a soul who loves her
Left there about to break into a sob
She told herself not to look down and mope
But to look up, smile, it will soon come…hope!
Please tune in next week for the second poem…
-Windy Borman
Producer, Director and Writer, The Eyes of Thailand
Tags: animal abuse, animal welfare, asian elephant, Corinne Morton, Ithaca, landmine, mahout, poem, poetry
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009
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!
Tags: animal welfare, asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, D.V.A. Productions, documentary, elephants, endangered, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Motala, Prostheses Foundation, prosthetic, San Francisco Film Society, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Monday, December 28th, 2009
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!
Tags: animal welfare, asian elephant hospital, documentary, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Prostheses Foundation, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
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.
Tags: animal welfare, asian elephant, asian elephant hospital, documentary, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Motala, Prostheses Foundation, Soraida Salwala, Thailand, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009
The San Francisco Chronicle covered The Eyes of Thailand Work-in-Progress Clip premiere on October 21, 2009. Here is an excerpt:
Having shot movies on four continents, San Francisco filmmaker Windy Borman had seen it all - until she came across the world’s first elephant hospital in Thailand two years ago, where the enormous patients were being treated for everything from eye infections to gunshot wounds. In July, when she heard that some elephants at the hospital, victims of exploding land mines, were getting new legs, Borman raised some quick cash, jumped on a plane and finished shooting “The Eyes of Thailand,” a documentary about the hospital, to be released next year. We caught a clip of the film last week at a post-production fundraiser in North Beach. Trust us: You haven’t seen anything until you’ve watched an Asian elephant in the forest take its first steps on a prosthetic leg. Jaws hit the floor.
To read the rest of the article, add your comments and forward the link, please click here.
Thank you to everyone who came to the post-production fundraiser for The Eyes of Thailand on Oct 21, 2009! The documentary is timely, poignant, heartfelt and needs to be distributed in 2010 to tell the world about the plight of endangered Asian Elephants.
To make an online tax-deductible donation through the film’s fiscal sponsor, The San Francisco Film Society, please visit http://www.eyesofthailand.com and click “Donate Now”.
We are seeking post-production funds to edit and distribute The Eyes of Thailand in 2010. For more information, contact Producer/Director Windy Borman at: info@eyesofthailand.com
Thank you!
Windy Borman
Producer, Writer and Director, The Eyes of Thailand
Tags: animal abuse, animal rights, animal welfare, asian elephant hospital, documentary, endangered, Eyes of Thailand, Friends of the Asian Elephants, landmine, Mosha, Motala, prosthetic, San Francisco Film Society, Soraida Salwala, Windy Borman
Posted in Notes from the Director | No Comments »