Beautiful Boon Ma Needs You
This beautiful girl, Boon Ma, is in her mid-forties, and we are desperately trying to raise the funds needed to free her from her depressing existence.
Day in and day out, Boon Ma stands on broken concrete. She is confined and cramped in a run-down, insufficient roadside stable. Her space, at most, is 4x4 meters, and she is a shadow of an elephant.
Her gentle eyes are empty. She is lonely, spiritless, and despondent. Boon Ma also displays distinct signs of discomfort, not fully weight bearing on any of her feet and abnormally shifting her body weight from side to side.
Her overworked body is exhausted and scarred from more than forty years of captivity. Half of her tail is missing. Her left ear is badly disfigured, and her trunk has open holes on the side. Her feet are swollen because her nails are overgrown, and she has blisters in between two of her nails, caused by the nails pinching, resulting in her sweat glands being blocked. This can cause immense pain.
She spends her days stuck in that stable, waiting for the occasional tourist to stop by and feed her baskets of fruit. If they want to ride her, they can - she is at the disposal of strangers.
Boon Ma’s owners are an elderly couple struggling to care for their last remaining elephant. She has been a part of their family for over thirty years, and they realize that it is finally time for Boon Ma to be free.
Sadly, the owners both suffer from ailing health issues and are currently having to make weekly trips to the hospital, which is a three-hour precarious drive.
The owners are good people who have worked hard their entire lives. They do not have a pension scheme, health insurance, or any financial security. They want to be able to spend the time they have left together, safe in the knowledge that Boon Ma and their medical expenses are taken care of.
The total amount we need to raise for Boon Ma is 1.5 million Baht - 40,000 USD/38,000 EURO/32,000 GBP
This amount will cover 100% of rescue costs, six months of supplemental feed, medical expenses, and mahout salary. Most importantly, it will free Boon Ma and help an elderly couple pay for their ongoing and severe health complications.
As I write this, I am overflowing with a whirlwind of emotions. Since launching the fundraiser for Boon Ma three days ago, we have raised a quarter of the needed amount. This is a phenomenal start, and I just can’t put into words how indebted I am to all of you for your unwavering support.
I literally haven’t slept or eaten for the past three days. I am riddled with worry for Boon Ma and her owners and can’t stop wondering what will happen to them if we fail to raise the rest of the money…
The owners want Boon Ma to be re-homed as soon as possible. They have received offers from other organizations, trying to tempt them with more money than we have settled on. So, we are under intense pressure to raise the total amount as soon as possible.
Can you help us help Boon Ma?
We are planning to visit Boon Ma again soon and will keep you all updated with regular posts on our Instagram and Facebook pages. Every individual contribution makes a powerful and permanent impact, and we can not do this without you.
If you feel like you are unable to make a donation, you can still play an important part by sharing and then sharing again. We have to get Boon Ma’s heartbreaking plight out there. People need to know her story and know that hers is not an isolated situation. Be part of the compassionate change that we want to see for the captive elephants of Thailand.
As always, thank you from the bottom of my heart on behalf of the BLES family for your continued faith and for always lifting us up through the tough times.
Read more of Boon Ma’s story, or support her retirement directly by clicking the button below!