Today at 9:00 AM, Nongnooch Garden Pattaya held a ceremony to welcome the newborn elephants at the elephant showground. Phra Kru Kasemkittisophorn, the chief monk of Phu Tha Luang sub-district from Samakkibunpot Temple, was invited to perform the traditional blessing ceremony for the baby elephants. The mother elephant, Phang Susarakum, aged 29, has previously given birth to three calves, and her fourth calf was born on June 8, 2024, at 4:00 AM. The newborn is healthy and under the care of the staff.
Mr. Kampol Tansatcha, President of Nongnooch Garden Pattaya, expressed his delight that three elephants were born in June alone, making it the fourth birth of the year. To ensure readiness, a team of veterinarians and mahouts is providing excellent care. Additionally, Nongnooch Garden has received a certificate of good practice standards for elephant camps from the Department of Livestock Development and the National Bureau of Agricultural Commodity and Food Standards, making it the first in Thailand to receive such recognition, with 78 elephants under its care.
The welcoming ceremony included a procession of over 50 traditional dancers and 30 elephants. The ceremony featured the adorning of garlands and holy threads, along with the application of sacred powder on the foreheads of the mother and baby elephants for good luck. Nongnooch Garden named the newborn elephant Plai Ong-Ard. With many more elephants expected to give birth this year, Nongnooch Garden Pattaya is truly a prolific elephant camp.
