Phoon Mee
Phoon Mee
Born 1980 | Female | Laos
Phoon Mee was brought in 2004 to work as a logging elephant in Ban Na Kang when she was around 9 years old. She was then sold to an elephant riding camp in Wang Vieng for 8 months. Because of lack tourists showing interest in riding elephants, the owner brought his elephant back to NaKlang to work logging again for 2-3 years.
After finishing logging, Phoon Mee was transported to a resort in Luang Prabang where she would again become a riding elephant taking visitors on tours 3 or 4 shifts a day. She eventually suffered a wounded leg that did not heal because of lack of veterinary care in Laos. She was taken back to village where she was from and eventually healed after 3 years. It is because of her injury she was no longer able to work and sold to a sanctuary.
Phoon Mee is now living happy and free at the Laos Elephant Sanctuary under Save Elephant Foundation.
