Sompord’s Story is a complicated one, so read carefully!

This strong and incredibly handsome bull ads such a wonderful spark to our herd. In his late thirties, Sompord thrives in our care and enjoys the freedom and autonomy that BLES allows.

Sompord was first rescued along with three other bulls in December 2015.

BLES was founded in a village that had traditionally been used for logging and when the logging trade became illegal in 1989, the mahouts and their elephants were left unemployed.

After months of conversations and comprimises, Katherine welcomed four (yes, FOUR!!) bulls and their mahouts to BLES, with the promise that their mahouts would receive a monthly income, and their elephants would receive access to the social and physical benefits of sanctuary life.

It should be noted that such an epic rescue on this scale had never been attempted by any other venue before.

Sompord clearly loved his new home. Pang Noi and Pang Suai, our two flirtatious females, checked him out as soon as he arrived. There were trunks everywhere and we mean EVERYWHERE!!

Sompord has always been easily recognized by a birth defect that has left his back left leg shorter than the others. He walks with a distinctive limp, but it doesn’t slow him down at all. It doesn’t seem to bother the ladies either! This limp, has earned him the nickname, ‘HipHop’

During the Covid pandemic and with funds being at a dangerous and all time low, it was agreed that Sompord should be temporarily released from BLES. This was a heartbreaking decision, but we knew that Sompord’s life would not be that hard - he would not be worked and we trusted that Boo Nit would continue to take impeccable care of his beloved boy.

During the pandemic, BLES maintained a positive relationship with Boo Nit and continued to support them both whenever possible, always with the vision of being able to welcome them back to BLES.

None of us imaged that Covid would last for several years and on the 12th November 2024, BLES was finally able to re rescue Sompord and welcome him and Boo Nit back home!

It was a sensational day - walking the very same path that we had walked together nine years before. Sompord seemed a bit confused at first, but he quickly got that spring back in his step and we actually struggled to keep up with him as he stomped through the village towards BLES.

My heart was so full - full of pride and joy. It is no secret that Covid nearly destroyed BLES. We came so close to not surviving the pandemic and things got deeply dark for The BLES Family.

However, even on the toughest days, when I felt like all I could do was admit defeat and fold, it was Sompord and the promise I had made him, that forced me on. When I make a promise, I keep it…

In order to ensure Sompord’s permanent retirement, we needed to secure twelve elephant-loving individuals, to commit to a monthly $50 contribution and become Sompord’s Saviours! In under 24 hours - WE DID IT!!