Elephant Characters of Thailand 2
Elephant Characters of Thailand 2
Meet “Meena” (also known as Somjuk)
The second Thai elephant I’d love to introduce to you is a baby elephant named Meena, also known as Somjuk. She’s a little girl who has quietly become a social media star in Thailand—and once you know her story, it’s easy to see why.
The very first clip I ever saw of Meena was heartbreaking.
She was stuck in a deep mud pond, her body completely covered in mud, walking in circles with no way out. The pond had been dug for agricultural use and was located near the Dong Yai Wildlife Sanctuary, at Sub Wai Forest Protection Unit in Buriram Province. This happened on March 23, 2023.
From the way she struggled, it was believed that Meena had become separated from her mother and herd.
Villagers and forest rangers worked together to help her climb out. It wasn’t easy at all. The pond was deep, the mud was heavy, and Meena was clearly exhausted. When she finally made it out, her little body was covered in dust and mud, and she looked like she had no energy left.
Everyone was relieved and happy. They opened a path and hoped she would walk back into the forest.
But she didn’t.
Her mother and herd never came. So the responsibility of caring for her fell to the officers.
Elephant Characters of Thailand 2: A Tiny Survivor
Veterinarians examined Meena and found that she was still healthy. She was only about two months old. A temporary enclosure was built, and officers took turns feeding her milk every two hours.
Meena had a great appetite. She drank milk from a bottle easily—probably very hungry after all that effort climbing out of the mud. She had only a few minor scrapes, and everyone hoped her mother would return to take her back into the forest.
The Day She Chose Humans
On the third day, the officers brought Meena back to the forest edge where she had gone missing. Her herd was less than 100 meters away.
If she had cried loudly, her mother would have heard her. The herd would have come.
But Meena stayed silent.
The herd slowly moved away.
And then—just as the officers came back to pick her up—Meena cried out loudly, as if she was happy to see them instead.
That moment made everything clear.
Meena trusted humans. She followed the officers closely, asking for milk, sticking near them at all times.
The officers truly wanted to return her to the wild—because that is the real life of an elephant. But day after day passed, and her mother never returned.
A New Life Begins
Eventually, Meena bonded deeply with her caretakers, and everyone fell in love with her. At Dong Yai, she adapted beautifully—eating well, sleeping well, running around, playing in the forest, splashing in water, rolling in dirt and sand like a happy child.
Later, Meena was transferred from Buriram to Wildlife Rescue Center No. 2 (Krabok Koo) in Chanthaburi Province for rehabilitation. After that, she moved again—this time to the National Elephant Institute (Thai Elephant Conservation Center).
There, the goal was to help her the natural way: by finding her a foster mother.
Her foster mother’s name is Mae Saen Dee. She was the perfect choice—gentle, calm, and still producing milk, as her own calf had only recently been weaned. Mae Saen Dee patiently taught Meena how to live, how to behave, and how to be an elephant—even though Meena was still just a little one who didn’t yet understand the world.
Her Best Friend Is… a Chicken
Inside Meena’s living area, there is a chicken named Edward—and yes, they are best friends.
Meena loves Edward deeply. She protects him, follows him, and doesn’t like anyone getting too close. Whenever she sees him, she shakes her head, swings her trunk, and runs around happily.
Fans often worry she might accidentally step on Edward—but she never does.
Not even once.
Loved, Safe, and Growing Up
Don’t worry that Meena was abandoned by her biological mother and missed out on love. Her foster mother, Mae Saen Dee, cares for her with great affection and allows Meena to drink milk directly, giving her proper nutrition and comfort.
Today, Meena has been fully weaned and is now attending elephant kindergarten, where she learns basic commands and how to live alongside humans and other elephants. Because she was separated from her herd at such a young age, returning her to the wild is no longer possible.
But she is safe.
She is loved.
And she is thriving.
You can visit Meena and bring fruit for her at the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. More details are available through their Facebook page.
Every time I see a video of Meena, I feel happy. She’s playful, naughty, adorable—and I’ve completely fallen in love with this little elephant.
I hope that by reading her story and watching her videos, you’ll smile too—and feel a little happier, just like I do.
