My soaked, muddy sneakers hit the jungle floor with a splash as I slid off of Kai’s back. Kai, a 16-year old, 5,400-pound captive elephant, was my companion during my trip to Phuket Island, Thailand this past summer. After spending a day together trekking through a remote jungle and exploring the secrets hidden within a canopied forest, Kai opened my eyes to the remarkable realm of elephants.
When I first saw Kai at a local elephant reserve on Mai Khao Beach, he seemed to radiate an immensely powerful aura, and the vibe I perceived from him was overwhelmingly powerful.
Intimidated by his tremendous size, I approached cautiously. Yet with no hesitation, he casually sauntered toward me, hips swaying, trunk swinging from side to side and every muscle in his great body churning under his thick skin. When his big brown eyes met mine, I saw a friendly gaze that captured my heart.
As we prepared to set out for the trek, I was faced with a challenge. Because I am a horseback rider, mounting a horse comes naturally. But having no saddle, stirrup or horn to pull myself up, I was dumbstruck as to how I was going to climb onto his 8-foot tall body.
To my relief, an instructor taught me a signal. With a click of my tongue, Kai raised his thick left leg and bent it to act as a stairway step. I couldn’t contain my smile as I stepped onto his wrinkled thigh and climbed onto his neck.
The clouds were dense and the sky dimmed gray as we set out to Mangrove Forest. In less than one hour, the dreaded rain poured down, drenching my clothes and hair. Frantically, I dug out the portable umbrella in my backpack. To my horror, it slipped from my hands and landed in a puddle on the dirt.
Suddenly, Kai stopped in his tracks and turned his great head to the right. Extending his trunk, Kai scooped the umbrella from the puddle and handed it to me.
I couldn’t believe it. I no longer cared about the hail-sized raindrops soaking my face, but I was overcome with appreciation and trust for this gentle giant.
We continued to follow the trail, and I noticed he was careful with every step he took, avoiding small plants and flowers. His enormous ears flapped against my legs, and he paused every so often only to eat a small patch of grass.
As we emerged from the forest, a faint rainbow painted the sky. In that moment I remember humming the theme song “You’ve Got a Friend In Me” from the movie “Toy Story.”
We trekked down a sand path that led to the Andaman Sea. I let out a gasp when I saw the water. Never had I seen waves so white and clear. It was breathtaking, and I felt blessed to share the view with Kai.
As if he read my mind, Kai knelt down on the yellow sand, and I hopped off his back. Taking out a banana I had brought from the resort, I split it in half and we shared it. Of course, he inhaled his half in one quick gulp.
As we sat side by side on the sand, I noticed deep scars on his right ear and the side of his stomach. Perhaps they were from a standoff with another male or an effort to defend himself from a predator. But my heart was too heavy to imagine they might have been caused by humans.
Statistics show that it is possible for Asian elephants to become extinct in less than 12 years. There are only four ways left for them to survive: begging in city streets, illegal logging and labor, performing in circus acts and working at tourist camps. With many risks including injuries, starvation, contamination of food and work overload, Asian elephants may suffer the same fate as the wooly mammoth did 5,000 years ago.
After my encounter with Kai and other elephants during my trip, I’ve come to realize that elephants have individual personalities, very similar to those of humans.
English poet John Donne said, “Nature’s great masterpiece, an elephant, is the only harmless great thing.” Elephants form close-knit relationships, remember those who have made an impact on their lives and can even die from a broken heart.
The similarities with humans do not stop there. During my trip I witnessed an elephant shoot hoops with more accuracy than some of the players on the basketball team. Another elephant solved a simple addition problem that had even the audience duped at first.
The question then becomes: are we happy to suppose that our grandchildren may never be able to see an elephant except in a picture book?
Although elephant reserves and protection programs around the world are putting in efforts to stop elephant labor and cruelty, it has not been enough to be promising for the future.
My day with Kai came to an end as I slid off his back. Walking in front of him, I was sprayed with what I thought was water. People nearby could not contain their laughter after I realized he had sneezed on me.
It was awkward as I extended my arms to hug him goodbye. The only part I could wrap my arms around was one of his legs. But he wrapped his trunk around my waist and pulled me in for a hug. Laughing as I gave him a kiss on the cheek, I knew it was a heartwarming moment that I will treasure forever.
