Ms. Sangduen Chailert (second from right) Receipt from Ms. Sangduen Chailert for Master's US$10,000 contribution

Ms. Sangduen Chailert, affectionately known as Lek (small), is from Baan Lao, a village north of Chiang Mai, Thailand. Years ago, her grandfather, a traditional healer, was given a baby elephant from a patient as an expression of gratitude for saving his life. Lek named the elephant Togkum (Golden One) and their friendship sparked a love and respect for elephants that was to shape the course of her life.

After graduating from university, Lek worked in the tourist industry where she became more aware of the plight of the elephants in Thailand as well as the abuse and exploitation to which they were often subjected. Finding the situation unacceptable, Lek began to champion the rights of the Asian elephants by raising public awareness of their situation and coming to the aid of sick and mistreated elephants throughout the country.

In 1995, Lek used raised funds to buy land and establish the Elephant Nature Park, a sanctuary for elephants. Today, more than 30 elephants roam freely in the natural environment of the Park, and enjoy the love, respect and freedom. These previously abused and neglected creatures are now able to live out the rest of their lives in peace and dignity. The Park is also home to some 30 cows and buffalos, almost 100 dogs, 70 cats, 24 gibbons as well as many birds, monkeys, bear cubs, boars, frogs and fish; even crickets and insects are considered precious to Lek. Most of these animals had been abused, hurt, harassed or orphaned from animal farms and slaughter houses, and their numbers are on the rise.

Apart from running the Park, Lek operates an emergency medical unit, the Jumbo Express, racing to help elephants in distress whenever she gets a call. She also uses these opportunities to provide hill tribe people with medicines, toys for the children, clothes and educational support. Being a vegetarian, Lek offers a healthy and delicious vegetarian buffet to all the visitors, volunteers, mahouts (elephant handlers) and employees at the sanctuary. Many of her staff who used to eat meat have now switched to the plant-based diet. She has also initiated a program called “Vegetarian Passport,” the funds from which are used to publish a vegetarian handbook in different languages to encourage people not to eat meat, eggs or dairy products.

For her kind-heartedness and tireless work, Supreme Master Ching Hai bestowed upon Ms. Sangduen Chailert the Shining World Compassion Award and US$10,000 to assist her work with Elephant Nature Park. Representatives from our local Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association visited the elephant sanctuary in Chiang Mai on September 13, Golden Year 6 (2009), to present the Award and contribution to Ms. Chailert together with Master’s publications. Lek expressed her gratitude to Master for acknowledging her endeavors in saving the elephants, and her determination to carry on with her mission. She said, “Without elephants, Thailand would be like an empty country… I will help elephants until I die; I’ll never stop.”

Bravo, Ms. Sangduen Chailert! May Heaven bless you for your devoted care of the precious elephants of Thailand. May all animals thrive in safety and happiness, surrounded by love.