Amazing Thailand: Primary school kid goes to school on an elephant!

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Picture: Thai Rath

 

Thai Rath reported that netizens were having a good laugh about a child in Buriram in the north east going to school on an elephant. 

 

Poopay, 11, in the fifth year of primary school didn't need the school bus to get to class in Sateuk district that was featured on a TikTok post.

 

A video posted by Sanook - that can be viewed here - showed her clamboring up onto the back of Ole, 22, a bull elephant. He then handed her a stick and opened the gate.

 

In the next scene she was in her school uniform arriving for class then amazing her classmates on the parade grounds.

 

Picture: Sanook

 

Thai Rath caught up with the owner of Ole and Poopay's father Wisanchon Yongram, 38, in Tha Muang sub-district who explained that he has four elephants - a female 22 year old called Wassana, who has babies aged 4 (a son) and 2 (a daughter) as well as tusker Ole.

 

He said that previously he took them to a show in Autthaya but the pandemic scuppered that so he was loooking after them at home.

 

Poopay was very familiar with elephants being around them since she was very young and riding Ole since she was 6. 

 

Her dad explained that it was normally not considered good for females to climb up on elephants as mahouts especially using their tusks but he made an exception for his daughter so long as she "wai-ed" for permission and thanks every time. 

 

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Picture: Thai Rath

[JoePai]

Brilliant - but where does she leave the elephant parked when she is in class ?

[toofarnorth]

A nice item after the gloom and doom.

[anterian]

1 hour ago, JoePai said:

Brilliant - but where does she leave the elephant parked when she is in class ?

In the elephant park of course,

[kingstonkid]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

Brilliant - but where does she leave the elephant parked when she is in class ?

Where ever he wants to I will bet.

 

Would you try to move him.

 

I agree we need more of these stories in our life.

[Tropicalevo]

Impressive.

Love the video.

[PJPom]

I had a Thai friend in Krabi who had Elephants for riding and trekking, this was of course about seven years ago.

His wife had a Baby and the evening that they brought the Baby home he took her to the Elephant line and formally introduced her to every Elephant.

His explanation to me was that every Elephant would now remember her scent and accept her as family, I wonder how many children have two ton Babysitters .

The backlash against Elephant riding took its toll and he and the other Mahouts split up and the business died, I often wonder how they survived.

 

[Burma Bill]

An excellent article, well done young lady! I bet much safer than going to school on a motorbike!!!

[Grusa]

1 hour ago, Burma Bill said:

An excellent article, well done young lady! I bet much safer than going to school on a motorbike!!!

Yes, but does it meet green standards concerning emission control, environmental pollution, exploitation of the underprivileged, and energy efficiency?

 

ELM.

 

Joking, by the way, for the less intelligent among us.

[Eleftheros]

7 hours ago, JoePai said:

Brilliant - but where does she leave the elephant parked when she is in class ?

In the trunk?

[vandeventer]

7 hours ago, JoePai said:

Brilliant - but where does she leave the elephant parked when she is in class ?

It looks like a African elephant very smart that's the one that can paint a picture. Just leave a heap of bananas and they won't want to leave the spot. 

[Enoon]

9 hours ago, vandeventer said:

It looks like a African elephant very smart that's the one that can paint a picture. Just leave a heap of bananas and they won't want to leave the spot. 

It doesn't look like an African elephant.

It's an Asian elephant, with the characteristic small ears that distinguish it from the two African types.

[hotchilli]

12 hours ago, vandeventer said:

It looks like a African elephant very smart that's the one that can paint a picture. Just leave a heap of bananas and they won't want to leave the spot. 

I bet the elephant leaves more than a heap of something for the roses.