Sompord

This young bull added a wonderful spark to our herd. In his thirties, Sompord loved the freedom that BLES offers since the day he arrived.

Sompord was 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 negotiation and discussion, Katherine welcomed four local bulls and their mahouts into 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.

Sompord clearly loved his new environment. 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 is 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!

During the Covid pandemic, Sompord returned to his home in the village. BLES has maintained an open and positive relationship with The owner and we are confident that Sompord will return one day in the future.

Meet my Mahout, Boo Nit