If you were to see Nam Phon today, you'd see a happy elephant splashing in her special pool at the Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) sanctuary and elephant refuge. But not very long ago, things were very different for her.
Nam Phon was probably poached as a baby and sold to work in the logging industry, and then later in the tourism industry giving rides.
Elephants, though huge, are sensitive, intelligent creatures, and so all those years of labor and loneliness took a toll on Nam Phon, both physically and emotionally.
Luckily, though, she was freed from her life of hard labor for good in 2016, and came to live at WFFT. It was here that she met her best friend, another senior elephant named Jele, and began her journey of emotional healing.
But the 55-year-old elephant's physical health was still reeling from the hard labor she'd been forced to endure, and her back legs suffered the most.
Then one day she collapsed. After the episode, she was unable to stand on her own for several days, and relied on a harness to stay upright.
But the people at WFFT knew that she would need ongoing care to prevent her from collapsing again, and potentially doing more harm to her bones.
So they created a perfect physical therapy pool for her, where she can hang out as long as she feels she needs to.
Check out Nam Phon's rehabilitation below.
[H/T: The Dodo]
Nam Phon the elephant is 55 years old, and has spent much of her life enduring hard labor in Thailand's logging and tourist industries, both of which regularly exploit elephants.
The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT) was finally able to secure her release earlier this year, ensuring that she'd be able to spend her retirement in peace and quiet with her new best friend, Jele.
But the people at WFFT were more than concerned when one day, Nam Phon collapsed. Years of hard labor had taken their toll on her back legs.
It took a crane and a harness to lift her, and she was unable to stand on her own for a few days after that.
To make sure something like this wouldn't happen again, WFFT came up with a unique therapy solution for her.
Water therapy! Tom Taylor, assistant director at WFFT, says that she uses this pool once a day. "She… spends however long she wants to in the pool," he says.
Just like with physical therapy for humans, the water both alleviates strain on her joints while also helping her build muscle through the resistance of the water.
And she seems to like it!
She's been getting stronger, and is currently able to walk on her own.
But she still likes her pool, and sometimes even has to be coaxed out with treats.
"The daily swimming lessons will strengthen her muscles, as well as giving her something to smile about," Taylor says.
For now, the harness is being kept on just in case, but it looks like Nam Phon is recovering well.
And she's practicing on land, too.
And, as in the water, there's nothing like some snacks for encouragement.
The staff is still keeping an eye on her, but it seems like Nam Phon will keep on walking tall. After all, she has to get back to her friend Jele and to enjoying her retirement!
You can keep up with Nam Phon's progress, as well as the other animals that WFFT cares for, on their website and on Facebook and Instagram, and you can also donate to make sure they all stay healthy and happy.
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